help with carers allowance and other benefits

[ytsrik1978]

Hi i was on income suppot for my disability with my knees i had my albert bridge and they knocked me off ans said im entitled to appeal so i am i appealing. I also care for a friend with severe epillepsy so i have applied for carers allowance and said i can have carers allowance from the 26th of march. My ESA appeal money starts on the 6th of march at £67.50 a week.How much carers allowance will i get? Am i entitled to income support instead of ESA as i am a carer?

Will the fact that i am getting carers allowance affect the person i am caring for effect their benefits ? They get long term incability benefit, low rate mobility allowance DLA and middle rate care allowance DLA. They also get housing benefit and council tax.

thanks kirsty

[tonywiltshire]

One of the conditions of receiving carers allowance (CA) is that the person for whom you care is on middle or higher rate of care with disability living allowance, so this should not present any problem.
The point to check out is the overlapping benefit rules you may find that if you get Employment support allowance, the basic rate of which is as you say £67.50 per week, you may not be paid the CA, the basic rate of which is £55.55 per week but you may have an underlying entitlement. So your household income may not be greater after claiming CA, but there may be advantages, which you should investigate with the DWP.

[themas]

I assume your ESA is income related, and not contribution based. If so, the Carers Allowance is treated as income in calculating the amount you get, but you get a carer's premium. The total you will get is £98.50.

You can - if you wish - claim Income Support as a carer instead. The amount you get is the same.

[LoftyLottie]

Your carer's allowance will not affect the person you are caring for or effect their benefits. I presume you live in separate accommodation?

[LoftyLottie]

'affect'

[ytsrik1978]

yes we are in seperate accomodation
kirsty

[LoftyLottie]

So your benefits will have no effect whatsoever on her. Don't worry. It is your benefit for caring for her. Well done for what you are doing for her.

[ytsrik1978]

thank you for your help. kirsty