Can you claim carers if in ESA support and get PIP?

chrisyy

Can u claim carers for urself if in esa support and standard daily pip 

thespiceman

Hello @chrisyy Pleased to meet you welcome.

I am not sure of an answer. Understand if you have a look at benefits posts or threads might find answers there.

Also one our team or the community will know.

Take care

@thespiceman

poppy123456

chrisyy said:

Can u claim carers for urself if in esa support and standard daily pip 

No, you can't claim Carers Allowance for looking after yourself.

If you live alone (no other adults living with you) unless they claim PIP daily living or mid/high rate care DLA then you could claim Severe disability premium on top of your ESA.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Severe-Disability-Premium/What-is-a-Severe-Disability-Premium

So the question is, do you live alone?

BenefitsTrainingCo

chrisyy ,

Exactly as Mike says, for yourself, no. For another person who is on DLA middle or higher rate care component, Attendance Allowance, or PIP daily living, yes, if you care for them for at least 35 hours a week.

However, before doing this you should get advice as your claiming Carer's Allowance could affect the other person's benefits. It's also possible in some case for it to make the DWP question why you are in the support group, although it shouldn't necessarily do this - it depends on lots of things. For example, you might have physical difficulties but be able to care for another person in other ways.

As Poppy points out, a common confusion is with Carer's Allowance and the severe disability premium. If you live alone (no other adults) and no one is getting carer's allowance for you, then it is worth checking whether you are getting the right amount of income-related ESA. It should include the SDP, and if it doesn't, it's worth asking about it (and getting it backdated if you have been entitled to it for some time).

Will