New claim for carers allowance

bamboooo
bamboooo Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
edited March 20 in Benefits and income

Hi.

I have a 17yo who is on PIP. While they were at school I was able to work 29hrs a week, but since they started college in September (3 days a week), it has become increasingly hard to manage their needs. I took the decision to drop my hours to 2 days a week, meaning I can claim carers allowance once my wage drops. Does anyone know if I can claim from the date my hours changed even though it will be half way through a pay period, so my wage will be 50% 29hrs/50% 12.5hrs.

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  • flour
    flour Online Community Member Posts: 118 Empowering

    Just to make you fully aware you can earn above the Earnings Threshold but you must take steps to bring your earnings back under it.

    There is a wealth of detail here including things to keep an eye on. Depending on your current hours you might not need to reduce them.

    https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/carers-allowance/carer-s-allowance-and-the-earnings-limit/

    For the change in hours:

    There is more detail available in the DWPs manual here:

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69a04ed307d7bff3604d6dc3/dmgch15.pdf

    Note 'CA' means carers allowance.

    The Period over which earnings are taken into account 15400 - 15469 section may be best to look at.

    My understanding is, if, in effect you have had 2 contracts for employment. One running up to a set date which would not entitle CA and a second from a set date which would then you can apply for CA from that date. Your evidence will be your new contract. The fact your employer chooses to pay you through one pay period is irrelevant .

    In particular in 'Different kinds of earnings received for overlapping periods 15430'

    Look at 'Example 2 - Catherine' and the Example beneath that 'Pamela' who claims CA.

    Of course can also telephone carers allowance and put the question past them.

    I hope this is of help and do come back if you have any more questions. I am sorry due to time today I cannot break down the link in to a digestible post here. If you have difficulty following perhaps another forum member can help further.

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