ESA and carers allowance

wild_one

If my daughter (20yrs old) is living with me (ESA HB CTR) and wants to claim carers allowance for my dad, will it affect my financial position?

Thanks

Adrian_Scope

Hi @wild_one, thanks for your question. It's a tricky one, so I'm going to and seek some expert advice and hopefully will get back to you with a detailed response.

wild_one

Adrian_Scope said:

Hi @wild_one, thanks for your question. It's a tricky one, so I'm going to and seek some expert advice and hopefully will get back to you with a detailed response.

I should point out that my daughter lives with me, but is neither working or claiming having recently ended her own ESA claim. But my Dad lives alone now my mum is in care and my daughter spends time at his house helping so may as well claim carers?

Adrian_Scope

Hi @wild_one! Now your dad's living alone, is he claiming SDP (Severe Disability Premium) because if he is, your daughter claiming Carers Allowance means he will lose this. I'm still waiting to hear back about the rest of your question, but wanted to check this for you.

wild_one

Adrian_Scope said:

Hi @wild_one! Now your dad's living alone, is he claiming SDP (Severe Disability Premium) because if he is, your daughter claiming Carers Allowance means he will lose this. I'm still waiting to hear back about the rest of your question, but wanted to check this for you.

I don't think he gets SDP. I think he claims attendance allowance Im not totally sure.

poppy123456

I agree with Adrian, because he now lives alone he can claim the severe disability premium because he claims attendance allowance. He wouldn't have been eligible when your mum was living there but now he is. This is an extra £65.85 per week. If your daughter claims carers allowance for looking after him he won't be able to claim the SDP. This is paid in with pension credit.

Also if your daughter is a student (full time) then she won't be able to claim carers allowance. If she works and earns more than £123 per week after deductions then this will also mean that she won't be able to claim it.

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

wild_one

poppy123456 said:

I agree with Adrian, because he now lives alone he can claim the severe disability premium because he claims attendance allowance. He wouldn't have been eligible when your mum was living there but now he is. This is an extra £65.85 per week. If your daughter claims carers allowance for looking after him he won't be able to claim the SDP. This is paid in with pension credit.

Also if your daughter is a student (full time) then she won't be able to claim carers allowance. If she works and earns more than £123 per week after deductions then this will also mean that she won't be able to claim it.

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

Thanks Poppy, so just to confirm. Bearing in mind she lives with me, and claims carers for my dad it won't affect my ESA and HB/CTR situtation?

poppy123456

Is your daughter a student?

Does she work?

wild_one

poppy123456 said:

Is your daughter a student?

Does she work?

No, not claiming or working

poppy123456

If your daughter claims carers allowance for looking after your dad then he will be losing out on claiming the severe disability premium he could claim because he lives alone. This is an extra £65.85 per week for your dad which is an awful lot of money to lose out on.  it can also passport him to other benefits because he would be claiming pension credit. I'd advise a visit to his local CAB for a full benefits check before your daughter claims carers allowance for him.

wild_one

poppy123456 said:

If your daughter claims carers allowance for looking after your dad then he will be losing out on claiming the severe disability premium he could claim because he lives alone. This is an extra £65.85 per week for your dad which is an awful lot of money to lose out on.  it can also passport him to other benefits because he would be claiming pension credit. I'd advise a visit to his local CAB for a full benefits check before your daughter claims carers allowance for him.

OK, I understand that. But, if she claimed carers allowance would it affect my circumstances?

poppy123456

Her benefits won't affect yours. She must also be caring for him for at least 35 hours per week.

poppy123456

Doesn't that only apply if the carer lives with the person they are caring for?

wild_one

poppy123456 said:

Doesn't that only apply if the carer lives with the person they are caring for?

Sooooooo? If my daughter claims carers allowance and doesnt live with my dad he will lose his single persons CT discount?

poppy123456

No because he lives alone.

wild_one

Thanks

wild_one

I asked my dad if he was claiming the 'severe disability premium', he said "no, he has enough money to live on?"

Bless him?