An introduction to Carer's Allowance

Community_Scope

What is Carer’s Allowance and who can claim it?

Carer’s Allowance is a benefit which is designed to provide financial support to an individual who cares for a disabled person, who is themselves in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit (such as the daily living component of PIP, middle or highest rate care element of DLA or Attendance Allowance.)
To be eligible for Carer’s Allowance you must be over 16 and not in full-time education, and spending at least 35 hours a week caring for the person. If you have a job then your earnings need to be £128 or less a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses to remain eligible.

How do I claim Carer’s Allowance?

You can apply for Carer’s Allowance online via the official government website. It is also possible to apply by post. For enquiries on Carer's Allowance, you can contact the Carer's Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297 Textphone: 0800 731 0317

Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0297
Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users - check you can use this service

You can find additional information on Carer's Allowance on Scope's dedicated benefits information pages.

olympian

I think I think the whole carers allowance system stinks to high heaven. That the weekly rate for what is a long term benefit is set at BELOW the rate for shorter benefits is obviously a Whitehall-generated wheeze. Who can afford to give up a career and care for a loved one, all for £69 or so pw? I know people will say you can claim more, but the basic help available is limited to that amount.

racyguy

olympian said:

I think I think the whole carers allowance system stinks to high heaven. That the weekly rate for what is a long term benefit is set at BELOW the rate for shorter benefits is obviously a Whitehall-generated wheeze. Who can afford to give up a career and care for a loved one, all for £69 or so pw? I know people will say you can claim more, but the basic help available is limited to that amount.

Stinks? it's utterly disgusting on many fronts.
I myself am just finding out some of the restrictions of being able to be awarded Carers Allowance. My own situation and presumably those of millions of other similar people is that because I am old and receive the State Pension, we can't have it. You can care for 35 hours a week but if you receive the State Pension you are precluded from being awarded the £69.75 a week Carers Allowance. The DWP say that you can't be paid twice for the hours you give - your State Pension covers any caring duties that you carry out!
However, if you are able to claim Pension Credit (a means tested benefit) because of a low income and have low savings you can have what is known as a Carers Premium at the 'discounted rate' of £38.85 per week instead of the full amount of £69.75 per week.
Caring on the cheap -35 hours a week at £1.11 per hour for the impoverished State Pensioners who fit the bill to claim Pension Credit!! 

Ladislav21

Do you happen to know how it is? My wife and I are on PIP. I receive Carers Allowance for my wife, but nobody receives Carers Allowance for me. Can my wife collect Carers Allowance on my behalf, even if I receive it on her behalf?? and we live together? Thank you

poppy123456

Ladislav21 said:

Do you happen to know how it is? My wife and I are on PIP. I receive Carers Allowance for my wife, but nobody receives Carers Allowance for me. Can my wife collect Carers Allowance on my behalf, even if I receive it on her behalf?? and we live together? Thank you

What other benefits, any are you both claiming? Does your wife work?

Ladislav21

my wife only has PIP and I have Carers Allowance and Income Support on her

Ladislav21

We both work and are on PIP. I am on income support, and from December 1, 2022 I am also on PIP

poppy123456

Ladislav21 said:

We both work and are on PIP. I am on income support, and from December 1, 2022 I am also on PIP

Does DWP know you are working? As you’re claiming Income Support then the first £20/ week of your earnings are ignored and then after this your Income Support is reduced £1 for £1. 

Ladislav21

We are not working. My wife has severe asthma and many other diseases, I have long-term type 2 diabetes and many other diseases. I just want to know if me and my wife can claim each other's Carers Allowance

durhamjaide2001

I wouldn't think so because you have both have a condition unless there's a main carer that dose the personal care, cooking, cleaning and medical things then that's how they would be able to claim is that right @poppy123456.

poppy123456

Ladislav21 said:

We are not working. My wife has severe asthma and many other diseases, I have long-term type 2 diabetes and many other diseases. I just want to know if me and my wife can claim each other's Carers Allowance

In a previous comment you said you were both working.

Ladislav21 said:

We both work 

Do you live with any other adults? If you don’t then you will be entitled to the Severe disability premium in with your Income Support. This will increase your IS by £69.40 per week. You need to contact IS to claim this. 

As you already claim carers allowance for looking after your wife then you’ll only be entitled to the one SDP instead of couples rate. 

Sorry for all the questions but without all the information I can’t give you correct advice.
If other adults live with you and they don’t claim a qualifying disability benefit then your wife can claim carers allowance for looking after you. 

Ladislav21

We help each other as much as I can, somehow we get by, but I still haven't found out anywhere about Carers Allowance. Even if we are both disabled, we only receive 1x Carers Allowance

durhamjaide2001

Don't be sorry you have to ask questions to get the right advice. 

Ladislav21

Only my wife and I live in the house. As I wrote, I take Carers Allowance for about 5 years for my wife, but no one asked me. I don't know if my wife can claim Carers Allowance on me

Poslech výslovnosti

poppy123456

durhamjaide2001 said:

I wouldn't think so because you have both have a condition unless there's a main carer that dose the personal care, cooking, cleaning and medical things then that's how they would be able to claim is that right @poppy123456.

That’s not correct. Two people can claim carers allowance for looking after each other. 

@Ladislav21 do you live with any other adults? If not then please see my previous comment.

Ladislav21

My wife and I are the only adults in the apartment. I don't live with anyone else

poppy123456

Ladislav21 said:

Only my wife and I live in the house. As I wrote, I take Carers Allowance for about 5 years for my wife, but no one asked me. I don't know if my wife can claim Carers Allowance on me

Poslech výslovnosti

Then you can claim the Severe Disability premium single claim, which will increase your Income support by £69.40 week. It can be backdated to the start of your PIp award. If your wife claims carers allowance for looking after you then you won’t be entitled to the SDP.
To claim SDP you need to ring Income Support.
Claiming the SDP will be worth more than claiming an extra carers allowance. 

Ladislav21

I'm very sorry, but I don't know what SDP means, I'm new to these things

calcotti

Ladislav21 said:

I'm very sorry, but I don't know what SDP means, I'm new to these things

Abreviation for 

poppy123456 said:
Then you can claim the Severe Disability Premium single claim, which will increase your Income support by £69.40 week. It can be backdated to the start of your PIp award. If your wife claims carers allowance for looking after you then you won’t be entitled to the SDP.

To claim SDP you need to ring Income Support.
Claiming the SDP will be worth more than claiming an extra carers allowance. 

poppy123456

Ladislav21 said:

I'm very sorry, but I don't know what SDP means, I'm new to these things

It’s Severe Disability Premium paid to those that claim certain means tested benefits and a disability benefit such as PIP daily living, if they live alone or treated as living alone. As you live with your partner who also claims a disability benefit then you will be entitled to this.

If your partner claims carers allowance for looking after you then you will only be £38.85/week better off. If you claim the SDP then you'll be £69.40/week better off so it makes sense to claim the SDP in this situation.

Ladislav21

Thank you very much