Can I Claim Carers Allowance?
Finances We know that finances can be a big issue for carers – this may be because you have had to give up work in order to care for someone, or have reduced your hours of working, or it can be that you are no longer of working age and are having to find the money to pay for ‘hidden costs of caring’. These hidden costs can include: • higher heating bills • laundry costs or buying continence materials • buying special aids, equipment to make life easier • special dietary requirements and so on Whatever your circumstances it is important to be aware of local contacts who can offer benefits advice. • CAB Home Visiting Service – this is a useful service as trained advisers will visit you in your own home to do a benefits check and to help you apply for any benefits you may be entitled to. Contact the Home Visiting service on 01204 900213. • Welfare Rights Service – a helpful, impartial and confidential advice line open weekdays from 10.00 am to 12 noon. 01204 380460 Carers Allowance Carers
Carers Allowance is the only benefit aimed specifically at carers and it is intended to replace the wages you might otherwise earn from a job if you were not caring. It is a weekly taxable benefit but does not depend on your record of paying national insurance contributions. You can get Carers Allowance if you are of working age and: • the person you care for gets the Higher or Middle rate Care Component of Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance • you care for the person at least 35 hours a week (although you don’t have to be living in the same house with the person you care for) • you are aged 16 or over; you live in the UK and you are not in full-time education • you do not earn more than £95 per week from paid work Carers Allowance overlaps with some benefits, for example retirement pension, and you can’t be paid both benefits – you’ll be paid the highest. If you can’t be paid Carers Allowance due to the overlapping benefits rule, you will have an underlying entitlement
