hello all,
situation is that have had a carer since 1 December 2010.
Claiming carers allowance but DLA middle care removed so Carers allowance removed.
Carer claims I.S. and is told that they do not meet the eligibility criteria?
Anyone got any idea what 'they' are playing at?
thanks, Lisa
The way Income Support entitlement is determined takes into account extra responsibilities - and being a Carer is one of those.
So the person who was caring will have had their Income Support entitlement re-calculated, and it will no longer include what is called the 'Carer Premium'. So if their other income now exceeds that lower Income Support ceiling that would account for them losing their Income Support.
If the person is still caring you it won't make any difference - what counts is whether or not they are entitled to Carers Allowance, and as you know they are not anymore.
Are you appealing against the reduction in your DLA? If so, and you get back your middle rate care, your carer could of course claim CA again (and backdate it - plus their resulting Income Support - for 3 months, providing they have continued to satisfy the conditions for that carer premium.)
They have zero income from any other sources.
They still care for me as I need a carer, despite the DLA saying 'I don't need a carer, I just prefer having one!!'.
So, they are still caring for me and getting zero income from benefits and zero income from elsewhere.
Surely they must be entitled to I.S. or do they have to claim JSA despite them not really being available for work?
thanks, confused.com, Lisa
Only one person can ever be classed as the carer when Carers Allowance is being claimed. If the carer has a partner then the partner cannot 'piggy back' on the basis of the carers' claim, and must make their own arrangements for work, signing on or whatever they wish to do.
I realise in this case that the one getting the Carers Allowance is no longer doing so, and in that situation the DWP will take the view that having a carer is your preference - because as far as the DWP is concerned, rightly or wrongly, you no longer need one.
From your own perspective the only way to prove that you still need a carer is to appeal the DLA decision.
In the meantime yes - one of the couple at least will have to sign on to claim JSA/IS providing they satisfy the criteria, and those criteria do not include being an 'unofficial' carer.
There can be any number of reasons why they haven't/can't or won't claim, many of which would be unfounded speculation on my part. But it is difficult to see how they have both survived in the past on one payment of Carers Allowance and are surviving now on nothing. Unfortunately at the end of the day it is now up to them to try to do something about it.
It is not clear from the OP's message if the carer in question does, in fact, have a partner. If he/she does not, and if Carer's Allowance and Income Support were the only means of income for that carer, he/she now finds himself/herself without any income. In this case, the only options available are: to starve and become homeless (or rely on family for financial support) while caring for the OP; to stop caring for the OP and go and find paid work; to keep caring for the OP and sign on, pretending to be available for work; to find a partner with an income. Can't think of any other options.
I am in the same boat. I care for my daughter who is, for the moment at least, receiving DLA (high mobility and middle care). I receive CA, topped up with IS and Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit. Her current award ends in December 2014 (unless she gets unlucky and they look at her claim before that) and, to be honest, I do not believe that in 3 years time she will be able to manage without a full-time carer. But if she loses the care component, I will lose ALL my income, as it is completely dependent on her DLA award. I am a single parent so I would have to look for work and fit the caring around it (not sure how!) or I would have to live off my daughter's Incapacity Benefit and any DLA she may be getting. What would happen to our home I do not even want to think about.
Quite right EmilyRose - I had assumed - maybe incorrectly - that the 2 carers were a couple, and apologise to the OP. But as you rightly say it is still up to the carers themselves to sort out their own benefits. It would be useful to hear from lochlisa again - if only with his or her reaction to our replies on here and to find out what has happened since their last post.
Thank you for pointing out that this isn't an isolated incident, and that it could well happen to many more carers, especially in view of the pending change to PIP.
There are by the way Carer Centres in many towns who might also be able to give advice and support and alternative suggestions for other people who are affected in the same way.
Carers Allowance can not be claimed by your Carer if you are not getting the DLA care component.Originally Posted by lochlisa
Your Carer would have to consider signing on in order to get any benefit.
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