Hi, my name is south28! Can my son claim carers allowance for looking after me?

south28

Hello all.

Wondering if anyone knows the answer to this. If I get limited work capability and I still work(when I can) is it possible for my son to claim carers allowance fir looking after me?

Ross_Alumni

Hello @south28 and welcome to the online community  

Thank you for joining and creating your first discussion, I have moved it over to our benefits and financial support category.

I wanted to share the below information from the EntitledTo website, which says the following about eligibility for CA or the carers element of UC.

If you or your partner care for someone who claims a disability benefit you or your partner may be entitled to Carer's Allowance. If you are claiming Universal Credit you may be entitled to the Carer's Element.

To claim Carer's Allowance you must:

• Be aged 16 or over;

• Spend at least 35 hours a week looking after the person in need of care;

• Have net earnings of less than £132 a week, from April 2022. Any childcare costs or replacement care costs associated with working can be deducted from your earnings when calculating whether you qualify. For more information see work-related costs and Carer's Allowance;

• If you are in full-time education, to be entitled you must spend less than 21 hours in 'supervised study', and not doing a course described as full-time by the college or establishment providing it.

In addition, the person for whom you care must be claiming (or waiting to hear about):

• Attendance Allowance,

• Disability Living Allowance (middle or higher rate for personal care),

• Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit,

• Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension.

• Personal Independence Payment (Daily Living Component at either Standard or enhanced rate).

You must be over 16 to claim but there is no upper age limit. The person you care for can be anyone, including a relative. It can be paid to more than one person in a household, such as a couple caring for each other.
To claim the Carer's Element of Universal Credit the eligibility rules are the same as for Carer's Allowance, but there is no earnings limit involved. Also, if you are receiving a Limited Capability for Work element  (LCW or LCWRA) in your Universal Credit the same person can't get the Carer's Element as well, whichever element is highest will be awarded. 

If the person you are caring for gets a means-tested benefit they may lose their severe disability premium if you start claiming Carer’s Allowance (this does not apply if you are eligible but not receiving any money) or the Universal Credit Carer's Element. For more information see disability premiums in benefits.

I hope you enjoy taking part in the online community and find it to be a positive outlet.

poppy123456

Just so it's a little easier to understand, if you can't understand the information above. Claiming LCW does not entitle anyone to claim carers allowance or carers element of UC for looking after you. You must be claiming a qualifying disability benefit such as PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care.

L_Volunteer

Thanks @poppy123456. You are always really informative, especially in this area!