Carers Allowance

[Myriad2112]

My mother suffers from Lewy Bodies Syndrome (a form of dementure) and will soon need a full time carer. My mother in law (although in resonable health) is 90 and could do with some help around the house. I'm thinking about leaving my job and becomming a carer for them both. Does anyone know what kind of benifts or allowance I might be entitled to? The govenment websites aren't terribly helpful. Many thanks M.

[Jeza]

I care for my husband 24/7 after a massive stroke. I don't get a penny piece. The reason they give is I am over 60 and in receipt of the state pension. It doesn't seem to matter that I could go out and get paid work.

[hc4361]

£61.35 per week carer's allowance.

Would that be your only income? Do you have a partner who is working?

[Jennykenny]

Jeza it doesn't seem right that you are not getting anything.
Check with Citizen's Advice. I'm sure both you and your husband are entitled to about £100.00 a week together.

[Myriad2112]

I agree. It doesn't sound right at all.

Yes HC I have a husband who currently works but if we sell up and move the he will have to leave.

[hc4361]

As far as I know if you have no other income apart from Carer's Allowance you will be entitled to means tested benefits but that depends on the amount of savings you have. Your husband may be entitled to Job Seeker's Allowance but he could be said to have deliberately made himself unemployed.

[Jeza]

I'm afraid it is right, done all the checks.

[malana3]

Jeza,as I understand it you will not qualify for Carers Allowance because that is classed as a benefit as is your state pension. ( How the state pension can be classed as a benefit when you have probably paid national insurance for years I cannot understand), and you cannot receive two benefits. However, have you investigated if your husband qualifies for Attendance Allowance. This is paid to him to pay for attendance and he can elect to pay you.

[bednobs]

if your mum needs a full time carer, how can you also be carer to your MIL? (unless they live together)
anyway, does your mum get attendance allowance?

[hc4361]

Even if they lived together a person can only claim one lot of Carer's Allowance, regardless of how many people they are claiming for.

[ferlew]

When I was mum's carer, she was the one who got the payment, in with her pension. Have things changed?

[hc4361]

ferlew, are you sure that wasn't attendance allowance?

Carer's allowance is paid directly to the carer.

[ferlew]

Ah maybe, was so long ago, sorry.

[BlackadderV]

Unless the rules have changed I am almost certain that you can claim attendance allowance in addition to the state pension. An old friend of mine did that some 15 years ago. He needed minimal attendance so called it his "beer money.''

[TonyV]

Other than your carers allowance your mother may be able to claim some other allowances. Do you have an outreach worker assigned?

[hc4361]

Blackadder, you have to be in receipt of state pension to claim attendance allowance.
This question is about carer's allowance, a very different thing. One is paid to the ill person, the other to the carer.

[Myriad2112]

Bedknobs, I would live with my mother full time but would also look in on MIL, do her housework and help her with the cooking. Can you not be a carer for two people?

[jennyjoan]

Jeza is correct. I have a friend who worked night shift for 30 years in the care system - she became ill and could no longer work (she had a brain aneurysm) She came out with a bit of redundancy and the powers that be said she had enough in the bank to live off it. A disgrace - particularly I know so many people who literally have never worked one day in their lives and they get all the benefits going and their rent paid. A disgrace - again I say it.

[Daffy6543]

You can only get Carer's Allowance if the person you care for is in receipt of DLA care component at middle or high rate. Someone over the age of 65 is unable to claim for DLA (or PIP as it is soon going to be called), they may however be able to claim attendance allowance.

[Daffy6543]

You can be carer for 2 people but only get one lot of carer's allowance, as your mum and MIL are over 65 you would be unlikely to get anything off the state at all.