Hi i currently work but are struggling to continue as i provide care for my mom. She has limited mobility curvature of spine and under hospital for bladder cancer. Im considering giving up work to claim carers allowance mom gets attendance allowance. Do you think i would meet criteria. Thanks
The short answer is probably yes, but if you care non stop for mum she will expect more and more and you will have no escape. How will you get back into the labour market if mum dies before you retire? Has mum had a Needs Assessment from Social Services, and you, a Carers Assessment, to look at the support you need as a carer? Does mum have over ÂŁ23,000 in savings? Above this amount she will be expected to pay for her own care.
Even if it’s my choice to give up work. Do i have to get a carers assessment . I didn’t realise that carers allowance was means tested on savings.
Neither your or your Mother’s savings have anything to do with Carers Allowance - only your earned income is taken into account.
@Bowlingbun’s comment re £23,000 savings refers is confusing but refers to your Mother’s savings alone and is the cut off point for receiving financial assistance from Social Services to pay care fees.
You can find out about Carers Allowance and the relevant criteria here
Thanks. I was very confused and worried by the comments. If we pay for carers they will need to come in 3x daily which will greatly impact her savings. And it’s my choice to be her sole carer. Thanks again
Sorry, I did not mean to confuse you. I was hoping for a Yes/No answer to start with. If you give up work to care for mum, and she has savings over £23,000, then it is lawful for mum to pay you for the care you provide, thus lawfully reducing her savings, and giving you a proper income.If you don’t do this, it may mean that all mum’s savings might go on residential care, leaving you with nothing at all. This is a quick “starter” summary of an important issue. Being a sole carer has risks too. What would happen to mum in an emergency? Out of the blue I was diagnosed with kidney cancer when I was 52. My husband died 18 months later, 3 months after that I was nearly killed in a car accident, left unable to walk for 5 years. So I always urge people to have someone else involved, even just a cleaner, who can be called on to help in an emergency.
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Hello there,
Do you need to give up work? Could you not simply reduce your hours?
Carer’s Allowance is currently only £81.60 per week. If your Mum is in receipt of the higher rate of Attendance Allowance, and you provide 35 hours (plus) care a week, then you could indeed be entitled to it.
However, if you do stay in work, you have to earn under a certain amount in order to get the allowance… and you’re responsible for ensuring that you don’t earn over the threshold. Hence all the issues with Carers being accidentally overpaid the allowance and now owing thousands (in some cases).
I think my Dad had a Needs Assessment via the Council before we applied for his Attendance Allowance. Once he was alotted the higher rate, I was allowed to apply for Carer’s Allowance.
Hope this helps!