What are the minimum amount of hours my carer has to care for me to claim?

Karen777

My carer is contemplating taking on full time work..what is the minimum hrs he has to be caring 4 me to claim or can I not claim like the the lady who asked b4 and pay sum1 4 help I haven't done this as yet but I cud?? Thanks in advance to any answers,,,what's confusing me is i got the money b4 i got a carer??? 

Ails

Hi @Karen777 and welcome to the Community.  It's nice to meet you and thanks for sharing with us.  The hours someone has to be caring for a person is at least 35 hours to claim Carers Allowance.  Please find some information which Scope has put together regarding Carers Allowance which you may find helpful -

https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/carers-allowance-ca/

With regards to hiring a carer yourself this is an option also and I have included a link about this from the Money and Advice Centre which may help you -

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/using-a-personal-assistant-to-provide-your-care

I hope you find the above to be helpful and can appreciate that DWP matters can be very confusing as it is a minefield of information!  I hope this helps you to make a decision anyway and wish you well with your caring needs.  Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on and if we can be of any help/support to you then please just say.  All the best. 

Karen777

Thanks a lot 4 the reply guys much appreciated xx

Rhodie72

CA is a minefield but my experience as a fulltime carer was thus:

 she can earn up to £120 a week without affecting it. If she earns more than the maximum amount she will lose the CA payment and the time issues:

If carer only does 25 to 34 hours a week she will be entitled to just carer's credit (a tax recognition) but 35 hours or more a week gives the full award as long as weekly income isn't breached.

griff11

Carers can do adhoc work and when I declared the work I did they based it on a month,not a week.  So I worked 3 days on prepping local authority postal ballot papers (typically 9.30-4pm).    When I initially called they asked me to call back when I had payment as the local authority pay everyone, even casual staff, once a month.  They thanked me for information but said it would not affect my carers allowance.   I was also going to work in polling station at the last election  which is one long day (6am-11pm) and you get paid approx. £265 before tax.   Unfortunately I couldn't do it as my hubby who I get carers for had hospital appointment that day but again when I informed them I was going to be working they told me to ring when I had the monthly payslip.  They also followed up their decsion not to deduct anything with  letter.

vicki45

my son is 56 and is my carer.  i am on pension and dla, old style.  he also cares for his autistic son of 21 who is a student.  he used to get roadie work 10 hours a week  @ £10ph = £100 which paid for food and utilities.  he gets rent allowance, there is a £14 shortfall on this..  he has had no work since february since covid.  is there any way he can get help to pay for food and heating?  i am helping them out as much as i can so at present 3 adults are mainly lving on my pension and i am nearly £1000 overdrawn.  the bank will not give me a loan only an overdraft which is £900.

poppy123456

vicki45 said:

my son is 56 and is my carer.  i am on pension and dla, old style.  he also cares for his autistic son of 21 who is a student.  he used to get roadie work 10 hours a week  @ £10ph = £100 which paid for food and utilities.  he gets rent allowance, there is a £14 shortfall on this..  he has had no work since february since covid.  is there any way he can get help to pay for food and heating?  i am helping them out as much as i can so at present 3 adults are mainly lving on my pension and i am nearly £1000 overdrawn.  the bank will not give me a loan only an overdraft which is £900.

HI,

Rent allowance, i'm assuming you mean housing benefit? Does he claim tax credits at all? What other benefits does he claim besides the carers allowance and housing benefit?

Does he live with a partner that works?

vicki45

none

vicki45

he lives with his student son

poppy123456

vicki45 said:

none

He should use a benefits calculator to check entitlement to Universal Credit, https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=e2c2430b-2f6d-447c-8953-7e2603424c9c

Do be aware that if he claims for UC then his housing benefit will continue for 2 weeks and then transfer across to UC. UC is a monthly benefit which includes various elements.

As he's claiming carers allowance this will be deducted £1 for £1 from any UC entitlement but then he needs to make sure he tells them he's a carer and the carers element will be added.

If he's privately renting then he'll need a tenancy agreement to be able to claim for the housing element.

Council tax reduction isn't part of UC and can be claimed from his local council.

vicki45

many thanks

poppy123456

You're welcome.

If they are unable to use the benefits calculator then contacting a local advice agency near them for a full benefits check will be very helpful.

It's very difficult to give any specific advice without knowing all of their circumstances.