Has anyone else noticed that under the fog of Brexit the Tories have effectively stopped carer`s allowance for anybody working ?
Carer's Allowance is the main benefit for carers. You can still get it even if you are working, so long as your earnings are no more than a weekly amount known as 'the earnings limit'. The government has announced that the earnings limit will be going up to £123 per week from April 2019.
While this should be good news for carers in low paid work, many of those on the National Living Wage (NLW) will not benefit. This is because the NLW is also increasing to £8.21 per hour. So, if you work 16 hours on the NLW your earnings will be £131.36 per week - preventing you from getting Carer's Allowance.
It doesn’t make a single bit of sense. Another steal from the poor so the rich get richer scenario. That and placing even more of a burden on those in lower paid work.
This has been going on a long time I have never had carers allowance either my husband was working too much or my kids were in school or uni so I never qualified for it even when I was on floor and couldn't move with a back injury I injured back in work 18 years ago after working 25 years nursing .
Yep I put that one together it is ridiculous and if you are on UC they expect your Carer to work at least 16 to 30 hours a week and still look for work and still care for someone for free the fact is that carers get less than they would if they where on job seekers if they paid people for the actual care they give they could clas them as working and pay them a proper wage cause forcing people to work and still be a full time Carer is going to make them ill the person they care for is going to suffer also when are they meant to sleep or have anytime for themselves this government need to go before there is more I’ll health and death
My husband lost his Carer's allowance, though still caring for me, when he started receiving his pension! Hardly fair, is it, when you have paid in all your working life for your pension, which is not a benefit.
One option is to opt into the pension and half of your contribution can be offset. So if you pay in 18 to pension then £9 can be offset bringing you under the limit. Childcare costs can also be offset.
And add the others have said this is not new and people have been campaigning about it.
Be careful about working and claiming Carer's. Some years ago my husband legitimately worked one day a week, sent off his payslips which were acknowledged and then we found out my ESA was reduced as a result!
When you claim Carer's the form says you could find that other benefits may be affected but I didn't realise it would be mine. Fortunately the CAB helped us and we were able to claim other benefits like council support and free dentistry and glasses.
The DWP don't forget though! We were recently called in for a review of benefits even though my husband now gets the State Pension and the Carer's Allowance was stopped the same day. The letter was sent to me as I was named as the person that needed to be cared for. It said the interview would be done under caution and we could be prosecuted for fraud.
Naturally we were worried sick. I photocopied all bank statements, council support letters, (now stopped as the State Pension took us over the limit to claim) dentist receipts, (again too much weekly income,) and everything else I thought relevant. After an anxious wait and a few questions we were deemed to be above board.
I don't think Carer's should stop when the person is retirement age, after all our Carer's don't stop caring for us, they already go above and beyond and for very little payment.
Hi. It is disgusting and upsetting to say the least. That's the government for you. Perhaps with a new prime minister things may change for some of us. All I can offer is hope and I send you hugs for your bad times x😺
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