Mother possibly becoming my carer?

raztaz
raztaz Community member Posts: 5 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi all, I am new here. Thank you for all the insightful answers to questions I have been pondering about.
I receive enhanced Pip living and mobility, UC, LCWRA, Housing and Council tax benefit (100%). I used to teach, but due to disabilities getting worse I had to stop working and eventually stop volunteering too. The NHS mental Health team does not have a specialist for my condition in the area and have said so. For the past 4 years, I had to use every available penny on therapy, medical treatments and to live independently.
I am however also at the point where my neurological condition is forcing me to have assistance in the form of a carer.

My mother doesn’t live far from me and works remotely (flexible hours) from home for £100 per week. (Doesn’t claim anything)


I have considered asking her if she is willing to be my carer and apply for carer’s allowance. I contacted UC and two other departments to see how this might affect my situation financially.
With everything that goes out financially per month on medical treatments etc. I don’t know if I can afford a carer if some benefits will be removed because of mom potentially claiming Carers allowance for me.
I am also aware I am very blessed to have the financial support from the government I currently do have. Many thanks

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Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,411 Championing

    Your mum claiming carers allowance for looking after you will not affect any of your benefits. She just needs to make sure she doesn't earn anymore than £151/week.

    https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

    Is she claiming any benefits herself? If so which ones please?

  • raztaz
    raztaz Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    Thank you very much, Poppy.
    She doesn’t earn more than £151 per week and doesn’t claim any benefits.
    She is married and her husband receives state pension, but they both have enough savings to live from.
    Many thanks again.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,411 Championing

    You're welcome. I'm assuming she's not claiming her state pension? The reason I'm asking is because if she is and her state pension is more than £81.90/week then she can claim it but won't receive any money due to overlapping benefits rules. Instead she will have an underlying entitlement to it.

  • raztaz
    raztaz Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    Hi Poppy,

    We are originally from South Africa. I came over 20 years ago to teach and ended up staying. My mum moved over (permanently) about 1 year ago to marry her partner who she has been with for 3 years (both flying back and forth during that time!) She is on a Spousal visa so not eligible for state pension. She is 65 and still wants to work. Works very flexible hours - a remote job and her monthly income is around £400.

    Her visa allows her to work, but she has no recourse to public funds. What I am also struggling to understand, is if carers allowance would be public funds for her? Is it a benefit for someone if they work for it? Would it not be a ‘Benefit’ claim against my name if she helps me?

    My apologies about all the questions. The plot thickens and there’s really no clear answers out there. Thank you very much for helping me understand more.
    (now I just need to hope she says yes!!)

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,411 Championing

    That extra information changes my advice. As she has No Recourse To Public Funds (NRPF) then she will not be able to claim carers allowance. Public funds include carers allowance. See link https://www.nrpfnetwork.org.uk/information-and-resources/rights-and-entitlements/benefits-and-housing-public-funds/benefits/benefits-that-are-public-funds

  • raztaz
    raztaz Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    thank you so much, Poppy.
    So carers allowance is a benefit that will count towards her and not me as I thought.

    I was also wondering about that part.
    It is so difficult as I have no other family members here and all my friends are working.

    I am due to have an OT assessment at home for mental health in the coming weeks. Had an OT recently for physical health. (Was very helpful) It is all so interlinked. I am hoping the OT visit will help with ways to help me with support related to my mind and daily life.
    many thanks again. I deeply appreciate your time, effort and answers

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,411 Championing

    You're welcome. You can't claim carers allowance for looking after yourself. Someone can claim it for looking after you but it will be in their name and not yours.

    Your mum is unable to claim carers allowance because it's treated as public funds and she has NRPF.

    Hope the OT assessment goes well and there's some extra support out there for you.

  • raztaz
    raztaz Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    thank you, Poppy. I definitely understand that :-) and thank you for simplifying it for me. I think I was just wondering how this is a benefit for people claiming Carers allowance in general. To work so many hours for a an amount (unsure what both are) I was in my small brain just wondering where the benefit lies for them, rather then me/ people receiving it.
    there is no answer - it is the law, so no need to answer.

    I think that is why my first question was around how much benefit will be removed from me to ‘cover’ a carer. So basically people who claim carers allowance will mostly be friends, family or ‘loved ones’ who do not work, or do not work much. (Just thinking out loud again!)

    Thank you for the well wishes. Thank you so much for helping me and so many others here.

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