For more information or advice contact Care for the Carers call 01323 738390 or email info @ cftc . org . uk
Carer ’ s Allowance Made Simple
Figures mentioned in this article will be in effect from April 2013 .
Carers Allowance , worth £ 59.75 per week , is a non-means tested benefit available to people over 16 who are caring for someone for at least 35 hours per week , whether they live together or not . ‘ Caring ’ can include emotional support and ‘ watching over ’ as well as physical assistance .
The person you care for must receive :
»» Attendance Allowance
»»
Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest rate
However , not everyone will be eligible for the £ 59.75 per week as there are some exceptions . You may not get Carer ’ s Allowance because of the following :
The Earnings Limit You cannot get Carers Allowance if your earnings ( after tax & deductions ) are over £ 100 per week .
The Overlapping Benefits Rule You cannot be paid Carers Allowance if you receive the same amount or more from the following benefits :
»» |
State Pension |
»» |
Incapacity Benefit |
»» |
Contribution-based |
Employment & Support |
Allowance |
»» |
Maternity Allowance |
»» |
Contribution-based |
Jobseekers Allowance |
»» |
Severe Disablement |
Allowance |
»» |
Unemployability Supplement |
»» |
State Training Allowance |
»» |
Widow ’ s or Bereavement |
Benefits |
BUT you can still have ‘ underlying entitlement ’, which can make means- tested benefits more generous because the calculation will include a carer premium of £ 33.30 per week . This means that you could get extra money through Pension Credit , Income Support , Housing and Council Tax Benefit .
Effects on other benefits Finally , people need to be aware of the implications of a payment of Carers Allowance on other benefits . When Carers Allowance is paid , it counts as income for means-tested benefits , as well as generating a carer premium , but it can also remove the more valuable severe disability premium , which may be paid with means-tested benefits to a disabled person who lives on their own .
Take advice to find out the most advantageous course of action . Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or the benefits team at your local council .
If you live in Wealden District , you can also contact Jaki Hall , Benefits Liaison Officer at Wealden District Council on 01323 443774 .
Rother District Council Online www . rother . gov . uk Email benefits @ rother . gov . uk Call 01424 787740 Write to Benefits Department Rother District Council PO Box 60 Bexhill-on-Sea , TN39 3ZF
Wealden District Council Online www . wealden . gov . uk Email benefits @ wealden . gov . uk Call 01323 443500 Write to Wealden District Council , The Benefits Service , Council Offices , Vicarage Lane , Hailsham , BN27 2AX
www . cftc . org . uk 5