Hi all, I’m wondering if someone tell me if this is the norm - is it usual when becoming self employed while receiving carers allowance for your claim to be suspended and payments made every 3 months?
Sorry if this gets long winded, it’s been very complicated…
I have been receiving carers allowance for around 6 years and became self employed part time (in a 50/50 business partnership) in September but didn’t receive and money from the business until November. My monthly share of the profits is well below the threshold of still being entitled to carers allowance (infact it is less than I get from carers allowance so I’m currently losing money by working while my claim is suspended🤦♀️) I informed the DWP of this and in January I received a letter from them asking for the business figures for the last 13 weeks (September to December) before the deadline or my claim would be suspended. The letter was dated the beginning of December but arrived over 3 weeks late (Christmas post delays) with less than a week of the deadline left. I rang them to explain that I might not make the deadline if the forms were delayed in the post again on their way back to the dwp and was told it wasn’t a problem and they were making allowances for the recent postal delays and they put a note on the system on my file explaining this. I sent the information back ASAP, within the deadline (just) but 2 weeks later i received another letter saying because I’d missed the deadline my claim had been suspended and my last payment would be January 17th which had already passed. I rang again and was told they had received my forms and would get back to me in 6 weeks. 6 weeks came and went, I phoned multiple times and was told it would now be up to 12 weeks. On April 22nd I received a payment from 17th of January until 13th or March. I understand that i need to send the DWP the business figures when requested every 13 weeks but is it normal to receive one payment every 3 months a month in arrears? I was under the impression after speaking with someone at the DWP when I first informed them of my self employment that I would continue to get paid carers allowance every 4 weeks.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I haven’t experienced the delays in payments you have but will outline what used to happen when I was self employed.
I was self employed when I first claimed Carer’s Allowance. I received the form asking for business expenses and returned this together with a copy of my latest profit and loss accounts.
These figures were accepted and in the following years I was asked annually for the same information which I supplied. I was never asked for them quarterly. My understanding was that self-employed income is averaged over 12 months for Carer’s Allowance purposes.
At no time were any payments of Carer’s Allowance suspended and I continued to receive them every 4 weeks.
I retired 3 years ago and I don’t receive Carer’s Allowance anymore as it is classed as an overlapping benefit with the State Pension, although I still have an underlying entitlement to it.
I can only think that the self-employed income you receive is close to the threshold and that is the reason for asking for the figures so often. My income from self-employment was quite low.
Dear clare_2205
Hi. I am Kristie i am a volunteer online community host for Carers UK. Im sorry to hear that the benefit system is giving you a difficult time and i am sure you will get the information you need either from fellow carers, the website itself or from the advisers on the helpline which i will give to you below. Im sure you will find the answers that you need.
So, welcome to the forum! You are not alone in your caring role and i am sure that many on here will understand exactly how you feel and will offer their support to you. Caring can be very lonely and the pandemic has made caring responsibilities challenging as many carers have been socially restricted and unable to attend social groups etc.
Carers UK are running two online weekly meet ups for carers and you can find the information on how to register at Care For A Cuppa:-Online meetups | Carers UK. The second online weekly meetup is called Share And Learn:-Share and Learn | Carers UK.
Our telephone number is 0808 808 7777 and the line is open from Monday to Friday with the hours being 9am-6pm and our email address is (advice@carersuk.org).
They provide information and guidance to unpaid carers. This covers:-
-Benefits And Financial Support
-Your Rights As A Carer In The Workplace
-Careers Assessments And How To Get Support In Your Caring Role
-Services Available To Carers And The People You Care For
-How To Complain Effectively And Challenge Decisions
Best Wishes
Kristie
Thank you for this information. I am sure that everyone needs such support.
I especially take into account all the world upheavals and the crisis that we are going through.