Hello I’ve just newly joined this forum.
I would be grateful if anyone can help with my situation as I’ve been left feeling confused as well as anxious.
I care for my mum who has dementia. She receives HB and AA. She doesn’t live with me I visit every day to tend to her needs then go back home as I just live round the corner. I don’t receive carers allowance nor do I want it after researching it.
I’ve recently made a new claim for myself for UC to help with my housing costs only while the Covid prevails. I have a job to go back to when this is over.
My mum received a letter stating that her benefits will be stopped because I have made a claim for UC.
I find this to be really unfair. I can’t understand why my mum should be penalised. It has nothing to do with her. The claim is for my household not hers.
Has anyone else been in this situation?
I have used my UC journal to promptly write to them. I will also call on Monday.
Will keep you posted.
Hello Elaine and welcome to the forum.
I don’t have an answer to your question as benefits are not my area of expertise. I would, however, suggest that you contact the Carers UK Adviceline
by telephone 0808 808 7777 (Mon & Tues 10am-4pm) or email advice@carersuk.org
However what I do wonder is if you filled in details of your caring situation when you completed your application for UC that the DWP assume you are already claiming Carers Allowance as I believe that UC can include a carers element which might affect your Mum’s benefits?
You will need to check what you told UC/on your application about your current situation. It’s sound like they may think you are staying with your Mum until you return to work.
Are you mum’s DWP Appointee? If not, you should be, so that you have proper authority to manage her benefits.
Are they stopping ALL her benefits, or just a part of them. If you claim CA then she will lose the premium she gets for not having a carer.
Did you know that she is EXEMPT from Council Tax as she has “Severe Mental Impairment”? If not, be sure to claim, this can be backdated to whenever she was diagnosed with dementia. Not means tested.