Carers Allowance hours

answeryou

Hi all my partner is just about to apply for Carers Allowance for her mother as she had to stop work to look after her. We are going through the form and it says must help more than 35 hours a week and asked about my details as well how does the 35 hours work as she is not there all the time but easily spends more than 35 hours sorting hospital GP appointments meds and driving to other medical checks as her mother has Vascular dementia and Bowel cancer. Thanks

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

You can include the time it takes driving to appointments and doing shopping etc.

You probably already know but her mother will need to be claiming a qualifying benefit such as PIP. Also make sure she is not getting SDP (severe disability premium) as that would be taken away if another person starts claiming Carers Allowance for her.

answeryou

Hi thanks for the reply she gets the higher rate Attendance Allowance nothing else

answeryou

Also why did they want to know my details ie my name and natinal insurance number

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1029232#Comment_1029232

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that one. Your earnings shouldn't affect CA at all.

Carers Allowance does count as taxable income, and provides Class 1 NI credits, so it might have something to do with that.

It is also not possible for two people to claim Carers Allowance for the same person, so they might be checking that partners don't already have a CA claim open.

answeryou

I am not sure what to do now my partners mother has become worse and has gone in to hospital for a few days to sort a pain problem. After looking after her for more than 60 hours straight waiting for a Ambulance that never came and then been in hospital as well with her they are talking about getting extra carers in to help my partner how would this effect my partners claim for Attendance allowance

answeryou

Sorry i meant claim for Carers Allowance

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1033887#Comment_1033887

As long as your partner will still be proving 35+ hours of care each week then they are still eligible for Carers Allowance.

Funding for NHS or Council type carers shouldn't affect your partners claim.

answeryou

Thanks for the reply it looks like they will be doing 7 hours a week 2 half hour calls a day morning and night just to help on a temporary basis so do i take off the seven hours the carers do

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1033918#Comment_1033918

If they are directly covering hours that your partner previously covered then yes. But hopefully your partner will still be over the 35 hour a week threshold anyway? CA won't expect you to record and justify each individual hour.

answeryou

Ok thanks we do not want to get in trouble with the Dwp my partners hours range from 40 to 50 hours looking after her plus it's only been 2 weeks since we started the claim so not sure if it be accepted and how long it takes to process.