Claiming Carers Allowance

[Emma1965]

My mother is 82 and have just had major surgery and had to have a Stoma bag fitted permanetly, so I am moving in with her to care for her and take over the housework etc. The surgery she has had has left her quite frail. What I would like to know is can I claim carers allowance and is there any other benefits my mother can claim. She only gets a State Pension. I currently work part-time for 15 hours a week. We are in Scotland.

[bednobs]

In order to claim careers allowance the person you are carrying for must be getting attendance allowance or dla/pip if younger

[Mamyalynne]

Read through this and consider a claim for attendance allowance the as Bednobs says you can move on from there.

[HansUrbancka]

I feel sure your mother would qualify for attendance allowance and possibly other financial help.

Perhaps it would be worth your having a chat with someone from Age Scotland who will help you even to the extent of completing application forms. Furthermore, the service is free of charge.

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/scotland/money-matters/claiming-benefits/

Hans.

[grumpy01]

The claim for attendance allowance must be your Mothers claim not yours.The person being cared for/helped claims attendance allowance.If forms still largely same as 15 years ago,my Mother claimed it then,you will need some input from your GP or other medical professional on the form to substantiate the claim.Best of luck.

[Mrsspagnoli57]

Carer's Allowance used to be reduced if you worked so check this out. You may not receive any if your weekly wages are more than the weekly Carer's Allowance but even if you don't get any money you should try to claim as underlying entitlement to the benefit may support claims for other financial help.

[EDDIE51]

I used to get carers allowance for my wife until I retired and it stopped.
You can not earn more than £104 a week, or they deduct £1 for £1 off the carer's allowance for every £ a week over £104. So with you working 15 hours a week you will lose some of the allowance. Carers allowance is £62 a week so you will not be left with much, but a little is better than nothing.

[EDDIE51]

Of course you could reduce your hours of work so that you earn £104 a week. It will make no difference to your net income as the carer's allowance will increase by the same amount as your lost wages. But you will be working less hours for the same income.

[DTCwordfan]

Your mother may get rates reduction on her house, 25% with two of you living in it.....

[EDDIE51]

^ It's council tax now not rates and the 25% reduction is for single occupants, but a pensioner gets 100% council tax relief anyway.
You living in your mother's house and working may mean she has to start paying some council tax, but not if your only income is benefit money.