Which Benefits is best to apply for

Benefits, finances and funding
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Hello first post,

Due to my parents becoming frail i decided to move back home.
I am currently on Universal credit myself for my own health conditions so know my way around the DWP pretty well. I gave up a part time job before moving back home.
I thought it would of been quite an easy process of applying for carers allowance.
I soon found out that it was not that simple.
I read that i had to apply for Attendance allowance first, then finding out they would need being on some form of benefit themselves. I applied for attendance allowance first for my Dad then got a letter stating that it was rejected due to not being on any benefit which i kind of knew by then. Unfortunately he passed away recently so does not apply now.
The confusing thing is before he died i had already applied for my Mum for Attendance / Carers allowance at the same time which i read was ok.

This time the response was different and i got an email asking for my P45 and last payslip to be sent by post to the Carer’s allowance Team. I also filled out quite a long online form outlining what health conditions my mum had and how it affected day’s/Night’s. I happily filled it all out although i dont remember where that form originated from.
A few days ago i got a message on my UC Journal stating i had to declare when i started caring for my parent. I was not expecting it as i was told i would receive a decision by post in about 6 weeks.

Yesterday i got two payments from the DWP which state CA. I really was not expecting it, but does appear related to declaring that i had started caring and i put the date i started which does go back over a month.
I don’t know why my Mum was accepted this time.

I am glad of the payment as i spend well over the 35 hour threshold, although i will query it as dont want it to be an overpayment/error.

I did an online search regarding why did i receive CA money when a parent was not on any benefits and an AI response was either they were receiving a benefit i was not away of or in fact an error hence why i will query it.

I have now found out that this payment will be taken off my UC payment which is unfortunate but my work coach mentioned carers element which actually adds to my UC payment.

The only issue i have that as i am on Universal credit i am in the category for aiming for 35 hours work a week. Due to ongoing health issues i have not been under too much pressure to work more than i can handle, although the role of my work coach is to get me into work. If i close the UC claim, i lose the general monthly living allowance. I am not sure how long i can stay on UC if i need to work, I can’t care for a parent and work so their needs to be a balance.

At present looks like the carers allowance is the only option if i close UC.

I am due an appointment with my new Work Coach next week, and he seems too know a bit more than my last one, although i know their is a lot involved.

Any advice on what is the best route or what was best for you in similar circumstances as it’s very confusing. It’s not just about the money.

Even writing this post just read another benefit called Carer’s credits

I know some elements do protect your NI contributions which is a good thing.

Thanks

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Ask DWP to arrange for a Visiting Officer to visit you and do the forms for you and mum. I’ve known about VO’s for years, but they are never advertised! If mum gets Attendance Allowance then you can claim Carers Allowance and then you will not be required to look for work. If mum is mentally frail, she may be exempt from Council Tax. Does mum own or rent her home?

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@Mr_Chic something else you need to think about is with carers allowance. If you are going to work and claim carers allowance you are only allowed to earn up to a certain amount if you earn over that amount the carers allowance will stop. If you type into Google carers allowance it will come up on the gov.uk website the criteria is on there it states you must carer 35 hours a week providing care and earn £204 or less a week after tax. To get carers allowance your parents must recieve a qualifying benefit you can only claim for one parent.

Carers allowance and universal credit pay ni credits towards your state pension.

Attendance allowance is always claimed by and paid directly to the disabled person not the carer.attendance allowance is for people over state pension age and PIP. Is for people under state pension age.

On Monday morning I would ring your local citizens advice bureau .type into Google citizens advice bureau and the area where you live and the phone number will come up. Ring them and tell them what you are wanting to know and they will make an appointment for someone to ring you back And will go through everything with you . All the benefits concerning your mum and yourself , you could also mention to them that you are not well. Also when they ring back have a pen and paper so you can note down what they tell you.

I am very sorry for the loss of your dad.

1 Like
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Hello,

Thanks for reply.

Never heard of the VO although would happily have someone round to see how my Mum is as she’s 89 and recently out of hospital with an infection causing delirium. Loosing her husband hasn’t helped but was deteriorating anyway at her age. Her GP even wrote me a report outlining her conditions including mental impairment.

She owns the home, well i would hope everything was all left to her.

That’s what has confused me over the attendance allowance as 99% of my searches result in saying she needs to on a qualifying benefit. I called the DWP Carers allowance helpline for clarification and i am almost certain they said i should still apply.

When i got the UC message to declare that i had started caring it was pretty basic as below.

“provides care for someone who has a health condition or is disabled, for 35 hours or more a week. The cared-for person does not receive benefits”

Then i got the two mentioned payments which seems a bit quick.

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Hi,

I dont plan to work, although not against a few hows just to get out of the house. Depends what my work coach advises. I know if i am on UC and carers allowance at the same time i dont gain anything, but work coach mentioned the carer element which is different.

I have been in contact with citizens advice who have been helpful.

To add to the mess, i am part way through a DWP Tribunal as after a health assessment for my own health it was deemed i was fit to work 35 hours a week. Been waiting a year for the hearing.

1 Like
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@Mr_Chic hiya no I know you don’t plan to work.i just wrote that so you were aware of it as you said your work coach is trying to get you back to work. That was why i wrote that just for information so you knew..No if you get universal credit and carers allowance you don’t gain anything with those.But then there is a carers element part of universal credit for caring .called the care element so you would get a-bit more.so don’t cancel your universal credit.

You have been in contact with citizens advice bureau over all of this. They can help you with it and explain it all to you and look into your mums and yours benefits.

Does your mum get attendance allowance. Is your mum now going to put a claim in for attendance allowance.

To get council tax exemption someone has to be severely mentally impaired . You would need to ring your local council/town hall like bowlingbun has said I don’t know if you have to fill a form in or can just ring .if you need to fill a form in they will send you one. They will then contact her gp to confirm this. If you type exemption to council tax for severely impaired person it will bring it up on the internet and then you can read the criteria.

I am sorry about your trouble with the DWP. You say you have been waiting 12 months for a tribunal have you told the citizens advice bureau this. I would ring them about this to and tell them you have been waiting 12 months and see if there is anything they can do to help. I have a complaint in with the DWP to.

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@Mr_Chic if you recieve carers allowance or the carers element of UC.The DWP cannot ask you to look for a job or to attend work focused interviews because caring 35 hours a week or more places you in the no work related requirement group.you do not have to search for work apply for jobs or meet with a work coach for mandatory work search requirements.you are allowed to choose to work or volunteer if you want to but the job centre cannot force you to do.

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The Attendance Allowance is paid to Mum. The once she receives it you can claim Carera Allowance IF you are on a low income. Do you manage mum’s money? The Visiting Officers I’ve met have been excellent. If they fill in the forms claims go through faster. They come to you, by prior arrangement.

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@Mr_Chic

Welcome to the forum.

I’m sorry for the loss of your Dad.

Benefits are a minefield. I suggest you contact the

You can email us at adviceline@carersuk.org and we will respond to your enquiries within 10 working days, although it can often be sooner.

Our telephone helpline providing information is open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm - [0808 808 7777](tel:0808 808 7777)

Or the Citizens Advice Bureau.