Carer's Allowance - does it work for you?

[Maurice_Mencap]

Hello everyone,

Mencap's policy team would like to hear about your experiences of accessing Carer's Allowance.

If you've faced any challenges or issues with any aspect of getting it, we'd like to hear about it, and how that made you feel.

Any insights or quotes may be anonymously used in engagement with the government to show the impact that Carer's Allowance has on the families of people with a learning disability.

If you would like to have your say but keep things private, please feel free to send me a message with the chat function here.

Thanks!

[DrSarahmac]

I found it fairly easy to access as we already had PIP at high levels. Filled in the form and it was awarded about 6 weeks later.

[Maurice_Mencap Partner in reply to DrSarahmac]

That's good to hear, DrSarahmac , we hope that's the experience most people have. 🙂

[Buddyh]

Because my daughter was on the lowest for Disability Living Allowance I couldn't claim Carer's Allowance. When her disability progressed and she is now on PIP I couldn't claim because I was retired! I've only ever been able to work part time because of all her hospital appointments, then we had to build an annex to accommodate her because she couldn't cope living on her own, and even now we subsidise her - it has cost us thousands!! I personally would say trying to get any financial help, either from the Government or our local Council has been difficult at best, impossible mainly.

[Maurice_Mencap Partner in reply to Buddyh]

Sorry to hear that, Buddyh , would you be happy to share that with our policy team? Also if you feel you need some support with any aspects of claiming financial help, get in touch with Mencap's helpline team on [e-mail].

[Buddyh in reply to Maurice_Mencap]

I'm happy to share my thouughts and facts with your policy team but no names at the moment. Thank you for the link regarding financial help

[Mybestfriends]

Awful experience, I could only work Part time, minimum wage. Our Adult Son lived independently, with no support apart from first point, no Asperges support, he had his Bills to pay, I received £55 a week & they took same from his Benefit. Because I got a Bonus a couple of times from my job Co op Cashier, they made me pay every penny back, this caused us hardship. Years later & currently, I had to give up Working, as Son went into Psychosis & I'm 24/7 Caring for him, he still has his Tenancy, I don't even both claiming Carer's Allowance, its too much trouble! The stress we are already under with Son's health issues, diagnosises including CPTSD. Now he is about to receive his s117 Care Package & a Mutual Exchange finally happening. My husband has had to use a few Credit cards, just to keep our home a float, not for indulgence or buying things, not even had a Holiday for many years now. Hope the Gov sorts this system out. Unpaid Carer's, Should receive funding & not come from Cared for Benefits. We save the Gov Thousands if not Millions, the hours we do & do not get a break.

[Maurice_Mencap Partner in reply to Mybestfriends]

Hi Mybestfriends , that sounds like you've had a terrible experience, the issue around the bonus payment as well is really shocking. Are you happy to share what you've written with our policy team? Also if you feel you need some support with any aspects of claiming financial help, get in touch with Mencap's helpline team on [e-mail].

[Jtrom]

I applied for it as I care for my daughter. It was straightforward as she was on the middle rate of DLA. I'm not sure what will happen when she has to transfer/apply for PIP when she's 16 in October.

[Bergersil400]

I have been claiming carers allowance for my disabled daughter since she was 3 years old and claiming middle rate DLA. It was pretty straight forward as I wasn't working and was caring for her for at least 35 hours a week. When my youngest son started school I got in touch with the DWP and said I was starting a part time job. They said I could claim as long as my earnings didn't exceed a certain amount.

I continued claiming without any issue throughout my daughters childhood into her adult years.

Two years ago when she moved into supported living I asked if I could continue to claim and the advisor said as long as she was claiming a qualifying benefit and I continued to provide at least 35 hours a week care which didn't just include personal care I could continue to claim it.

Because she was coming home every week for at least 3 days & was also responsible for other aspects of her care I was easily exceeding 35 hours a week. I continue to work 13 hours a week over 2 days which is under the amount I am allowed to earn.

The only issue I have experienced happened shortly after my daughter went into supported living when extra hours I had claimed for over 2 months before dummer break hadn't been submitted by my line manager. Instead my claim was submitted in the September on our return back to work.

I hadn't realised and the following month shortly after being paid, my carers allowance was suspended as I had gone over by about £60 over the month.

It took 6 months to have my carers allowance reinstated after having to send in emails from HR & payslips for at least 3 months to show that the nature of my job meant my salary could change from month to month. It was actually my line manager who was at fault however and I now am more likely to claim time off in lieu rather than claim for extra hours. I also inform HR if we are likely to receive any bonus to let them know not to exceed the amount I am allowed to earn.

To be fair after 6 months when my carers allowance was reinstated I received 5 months carers allowance in back pay. I only lost the first month when I had exceeded the amount I was allowed to earn.

[Library-girl]

hi I have never claimed carers allowance “never matched the criteria” despite providing care both day and night (not 24/7) but as required but my mother-in-law has which was stopped at retirement age yet she still cares for my brother-in-law aged 80!! How can that be right??? The amount of money it would cost to care for just mine and her son if we were to “hand them over” to the system would be huge!!! Also I’ve always wondered is the maximum you can earn plus carers allowance equivalent to the living wage for an adult over 25???

[Bergersil400 in reply to Library-girl]

The amount you can earn for this year before you lose carers allowance is £579 a month. If you add carers allowance which is £81.90 per week that gives you an income of £327.60 +£579= £906.60.As the living wage is around about £11.50 an hour, it isn't equivalent to living wage.

I think carers allowance on its own equates to about £2 per hour.

On getting beyond retirement as I will be retirement age in 4 years time, they said because the full pension comes under same department DWP it is classed as a benefit but pension worth more money. Not sure whether same applies if on reduced pension and claiming pension credit.

[Library-girl in reply to Bergersil400]

Thanks for your comment I guessed this would be the case and both points are disgraceful in my opinion