Bit of advice please

Options
Firefly123
Firefly123 Online Community Member Posts: 526 Empowering
edited October 2021 in Benefits and income
Hi I am my sons appointee as he has mental health issues my problems are all physical can he claim carers allowance as has to help a lot he is on universal credit. 

Comments

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 17,108 Championing
    Hi @Firefly123 - I don't know enough about this to advise, but would suggest you could try ringing Carers UK for their advice. Tel: 0808 808 7777 from Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm. There's also some info or their website.
    Hope this may help. :)

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,754 Online Community Programme Lead
    Hello @Firefly123. Does your son receive the LCWRA/LCW element of Universal Credit?

    There's no reason a disabled person can't be a carer and receive Carer's Allowance (as long as the care they give doesn't contradict the care they need/support they receive). However, if he receives LCWRA there's no financial gain to him claiming Carer's Allowance.
  • Firefly123
    Firefly123 Online Community Member Posts: 526 Empowering
    Thank you @chiarieds I've looked on the links ☺

    Hi @Adrian_Scope he has uc lcw which was until Dec last year but not been reviewed yet I guess due to the lockdown. He has no physical problems at all has autism depression and anxiety servre aggrophobia. My problems are all physical so he is always at home and has to help me most days. So our needs are the opposite from each other ☺ 
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,754 Online Community Programme Lead
    Hi @Firefly123. Does he receive the £126.11 a month for LCW? 

    Carer's Allowance is deducted £ for £ from Universal Credit but he would then have the carer element (£162) added on to Universal Credit. But if he receives the £126 for LCW it would replace that. 
    He can claim the carer element of UC without claiming Carer's Allowance so all of his money comes from one place, but some people prefer the ability to have CA paid weekly. 

    If he receives LCWRA (£336 a month extra on UC), there's no financial gain to him claiming either the carer element or Carer's Allowance. 
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,754 Online Community Programme Lead
    Oh, just to check, do you receive or are you eligible for SDP now you've been awarded PIP @Firefly123? Remember that you'll lose SDP if your son, or anyone else, claims carer's allowance or the carer element of UC for you.
  • Firefly123
    Firefly123 Online Community Member Posts: 526 Empowering
    Hi @Adrian_Scope no I would not qualify for sdp as my young adults all live with me. My son does not receive any extra money for lcw. ☺ 
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,754 Online Community Programme Lead
    Hi @Firefly123.
    So, yes he'd be financially better off claiming carers for you, but it's a personal choice as to whether he wants to do this via Carer's Allowance or the carer element.
    Your son having an appointee doesn't mean he can't be a carer for someone else.

    I hope that helps!