If you are caring for someone (adult or child) with a disability there is financial help available
Money is tight at the best of times, but when you or a family member have a disability it can be even harder. In my case I have a son with Dyspraxia & ADHD and receiving DLA enables me to do things for him that I would otherwise not be able to afford.
In addition to the DLA which Daniel receives, I also receive Carer's Allowance which allows me to do even more for Daniel. Not everyone is entitled to receive Carer's Allowance and you usually need to be entitled to DLA at Middle Rate or Above.
What is Carer's Allowance
Carer's Allowance is a benefit to help people who look after someone who is disabled. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person that you care for.
Not every carer is eligible for Carer's Allowance. This is because there are certain rules which apply to the carer, and the person being cared for. Some of the basic rules are:
It's very important to note that certain benefits for the person you care for can reduce if you get Carer's Allowance. For example, if the person you care for gets Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, they may lose the Severe Disability Premium if that is included in their benefit.
Other important notes;
However:
Because of the complicated rules it may not be easy to work out if you are entitled to Carer's Allowance, and if you are, how it may affect your other benefits. Therefore, if you are considering claiming, it is best to take expert advice - see link to DirectGov.
Not every carer is eligible for Carer's Allowance. This is because there are certain rules which apply to the carer, and the person being cared for. Some of the basic rules are:
- You must be aged over 16.
- You must be spending at least 35 hours a week looking after the ill or disabled person. You do not need to care for the person every day - just for 35 hours or more per week.
- You cannot earn over a certain amount from other work (after allowable expenses and deductions such as income tax). This amount at April 2007 is £87 (but the figure is revised each April). However, to be eligible for Carer's Allowance your savings are not taken into account and it does not depend on whether you have paid any National Insurance contributions.
- You cannot get Carer's Allowance if you are on a course of full-time education. This means 21 hours a week or more of supervised study.
It's very important to note that certain benefits for the person you care for can reduce if you get Carer's Allowance. For example, if the person you care for gets Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, they may lose the Severe Disability Premium if that is included in their benefit.
Other important notes;
- Carer's Allowance is a taxable benefit.
- You may not be able to claim Carer's Allowance in full if you are already receiving certain other benefits at certain rates. These are called overlapping benefits. For example, State Retirement Pension.
- Also, as mentioned, the person cared for may have a reduction in certain benefits if you receive Carer's Allowance.
However:
- You may get more money if you receive certain other benefits such as Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
- You may be able to receive extra payments for a partner or dependent children, subject to certain conditions. (For example, depending if they have an income or benefits above a certain level.)
Because of the complicated rules it may not be easy to work out if you are entitled to Carer's Allowance, and if you are, how it may affect your other benefits. Therefore, if you are considering claiming, it is best to take expert advice - see link to DirectGov.
"Carer's Allowance - get the financial support you are entitled to."
How much is Carer's Allowance | How is Carer's Allowance Paid?
How much is Carer's Allowance?
The weekly rate is £50.55. This is reduced by the amount of certain other benefits, including State Pension, that you receive. If you receive certain other benefits at £50.55 or more a week, Carer's Allowance cannot be paid to you as well.
You may be able to get an additional amount for your husband, wife or civil partner or someone living with you who looks after your dependent children.
How is Carer's Allowance Paid?
Carer's Allowance is normally paid directly into any account of your choice which accepts Direct Payment of benefits. This might be a bank, building society, or other account provider.
You may be able to get someone else to collect your Carer's Allowance if you wish. For help with this contact your bank, building society or other account provider.
If you would like more information about how you can be paid by other means contact the Carer's Allowance Unit - details are in the 'How to claim' section.
The weekly rate is £50.55. This is reduced by the amount of certain other benefits, including State Pension, that you receive. If you receive certain other benefits at £50.55 or more a week, Carer's Allowance cannot be paid to you as well.
You may be able to get an additional amount for your husband, wife or civil partner or someone living with you who looks after your dependent children.
How is Carer's Allowance Paid?
Carer's Allowance is normally paid directly into any account of your choice which accepts Direct Payment of benefits. This might be a bank, building society, or other account provider.
You may be able to get someone else to collect your Carer's Allowance if you wish. For help with this contact your bank, building society or other account provider.
If you would like more information about how you can be paid by other means contact the Carer's Allowance Unit - details are in the 'How to claim' section.
How to Claim Carer's Allowance
There are several ways of making a claim for Carer's Allowance: you can claim online, ask for a claim form to be sent to you or you can download a form from this page.
Online
To claim online use the link below and follow the on-screen instructions. The first page will check that you have the right software and show you what to do if you haven't. You'll then be able to complete an electronic form to claim Carer's Allowance.
Contact the Carer's Allowance Unit
The Carer's Allowance Unit can send you a claim form. Tell them if you need a form in Welsh, Braille, large print or on audio tape.
Their address is Carer's Allowance Unit, Palatine House, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 1HB
Telephone: 01253 856 123
Textphone: 01772 562 202
You can ring these numbers between 9am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and between 9am and 4.30pm Friday.
If your first language is not English ask for information about the interpreter service.
Fax: 01772 899 354
Email: cau.customer-services@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Ask the Benefit Enquiry Line
You can call the Benefit Enquiry Line for a claim form and advice on how to fill it in.
Telephone: 0800 88 22 00
Textphone: 0800 24 33 55
You can ring these numbers between 8.30am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday and between 9am and 1pm on Saturdays.
Ask a local office for a form
You can get in touch with any Jobcentre Plus office or Pension Centre. You can find the phone number or address in the phone book.
Download the claim form
You can download help notes and a claim form to print off and complete.
If you download the form, please complete and return it as soon as possible as the date your form is received will affect the date from which you will start to receive Carer's Allowance.
If you get any amount of State Pension you can make a claim for Carer's Allowance using a shortened claim form. It contains help notes.
If you want to claim extra money for a dependent adult, you should also download the 'Carer's Allowance - extra money for a dependent adult' claim form to print off and complete.
Online
To claim online use the link below and follow the on-screen instructions. The first page will check that you have the right software and show you what to do if you haven't. You'll then be able to complete an electronic form to claim Carer's Allowance.
Contact the Carer's Allowance Unit
The Carer's Allowance Unit can send you a claim form. Tell them if you need a form in Welsh, Braille, large print or on audio tape.
Their address is Carer's Allowance Unit, Palatine House, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 1HB
Telephone: 01253 856 123
Textphone: 01772 562 202
You can ring these numbers between 9am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and between 9am and 4.30pm Friday.
If your first language is not English ask for information about the interpreter service.
Fax: 01772 899 354
Email: cau.customer-services@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Ask the Benefit Enquiry Line
You can call the Benefit Enquiry Line for a claim form and advice on how to fill it in.
Telephone: 0800 88 22 00
Textphone: 0800 24 33 55
You can ring these numbers between 8.30am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday and between 9am and 1pm on Saturdays.
Ask a local office for a form
You can get in touch with any Jobcentre Plus office or Pension Centre. You can find the phone number or address in the phone book.
Download the claim form
You can download help notes and a claim form to print off and complete.
If you download the form, please complete and return it as soon as possible as the date your form is received will affect the date from which you will start to receive Carer's Allowance.
If you get any amount of State Pension you can make a claim for Carer's Allowance using a shortened claim form. It contains help notes.
If you want to claim extra money for a dependent adult, you should also download the 'Carer's Allowance - extra money for a dependent adult' claim form to print off and complete.
When to Claim Carer's Allowance
Claim now if you look after someone who is getting or has recently been awarded:
Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance (at the middle or highest rate of the care component) or Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate as an addition to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or at or above the basic (full day) rate as an addition to a War Disablement Pension.
Do not delay or you could lose benefit.
Claim later if you look after someone who has not yet claimed one of the benefits mentioned above, or has claimed but is waiting for a decision.
The person you look after should consider claiming one of these benefits straight away if they have not claimed already. If they are awarded one of the benefits, you should claim Carer's Allowance straight away (within three months of the Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance decision, if possible).
Do not delay or you could lose benefit.
Claiming other benefits and entitlements at the same time
Because a Carer's Allowance award may allow entitlement to income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, you may wish to claim some of these benefits or entitlements at the same time as you claim Carer's Allowance.
Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance (at the middle or highest rate of the care component) or Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate as an addition to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or at or above the basic (full day) rate as an addition to a War Disablement Pension.
Do not delay or you could lose benefit.
Claim later if you look after someone who has not yet claimed one of the benefits mentioned above, or has claimed but is waiting for a decision.
The person you look after should consider claiming one of these benefits straight away if they have not claimed already. If they are awarded one of the benefits, you should claim Carer's Allowance straight away (within three months of the Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance decision, if possible).
Do not delay or you could lose benefit.
Claiming other benefits and entitlements at the same time
Because a Carer's Allowance award may allow entitlement to income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, you may wish to claim some of these benefits or entitlements at the same time as you claim Carer's Allowance.
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paulbarton wrote...
The advice in this lens is literally priceless. I guess it could be worth thousands of pounds per month to the right person. Great work and love the other lenses too.
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