Carers Allowance
This page is aimed at people aged 65 and over who live in the Nottinghamshire County Council area and are claiming or intending to claim Carers Allowance. The information applies to people who are affected UK Social Security law.
On this page:
Introduction
Carer’s Allowance (previously called Invalid Care Allowance) is a weekly benefit for people who look after family, partners or friends because they are ill, frail or have a disability. You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you look after to get the Allowance.
You can claim Carer’s Allowance if you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a person who gets Attendance Allowance (any rate) or Disability Living Allowance care component (middle or higher rate); or constant Attendance Allowance paid with a War Pension, or Industrial Disablement Pension and you do not earn more than £77 a week.
In October 2002 the rules for paying Carer’s Allowance changed. Carers over 65 can now claim Carer’s Allowance for the first time.
Many pensioners cannot actually be paid any Carer’s Allowance because it will overlap with Retirement Pension they receive.
However, it is still worth claiming, as you will have an underlying entitlement to Carer’s Allowance, which will then entitle you to the carer’s premiums on other benefits. The carer’s premium is worth £25.10 a week from April 2003).
In some cases this could mean entitlement to Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit for the first time, or extra money on these benefits if you already get them.
For example
Rosie is 66 and cares for her sister Molly who lives with her. Molly is in receipt of Attendance Allowance so Rosie can claim Carer’s Allowance, as long as she fulfils all of the usual conditions (caring 35hrs + a week etc). Rosie gets £46.35 a week state pension, which is more than the £43.15 Carer’s Allowance she’d receive, and so she can’t actually be paid anything.
She gets a letter telling her this, which she can use as proof of her underlying entitlement. She was already getting Income Support but once she shows Income Support proof of her underlying entitlement to Carer’s Allowance she gets an extra £25.10 a week carer’s premium.
Important
In some cases the person cared for will be getting the severe disability premium on their own benefits. In these cases it’s extremely important to get advice as any claim for Invalid Care Allowance by the carer could reduce the income of the person they care for. If you are not sure if this applies – get advice - see below for where to go for help.
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What do older carers need to do?
Many carers will need to submit a claim for Carer’s Allowance on Form DS700 – even though they won’t be paid it. They will then get a letter telling them that they have an entitlement but they cannot be paid as they are in receipt of Retirement Pension.
They need to keep this letter as proof of their underlying entitlement which may then entitle them to the carer’s premium when their other benefits are worked out.
The carer’s premium is currently worth £25.10.
In some cases it’s possible for both members of a couple to get both the severe disability premium and carer’s premium:
For example
John (72) and Mavis (69) are both disabled and both in receipt of Attendance Allowance. They each apply for Carer’s Allowance for caring for each other. They have more income from their pensions than they would get from Carer’s Allowance so they are not actually paid the Carer’s Allowance. They keep their letters telling them that they can’t actually be paid any benefit as proof of their underlying entitlement. This means they both get the carer’s premium on their Income Support. John and Mavis both also get the severe disability premium on their benefits because although they have an underlying entitlement to Carer’s Allowance they are not actually paid it. This means they get an additional 2 X £25.10 and 2 X £43.15.
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Where to get further advice and information
Given that these changes may not be as straightforward as they seem, it is important to get independent advice.
You can make an appointment to come along to one of our benefits advice sessions in your area or visit a local, independent advice session. If you live in the county of Nottinghamshire you can also contact our Welfare Rights Advice line on tel: 0845 601 5943 between 11.00am – 1.00pm. Calls will be returned between 2.00 and 4.00pm. The line is not open on Wednesdays.
You can also telephone:
Carers UK - 0808 8087777
10.00am-12.00pm and 2.00-4.00pm Monday – Friday
Department of Work and Pensions
Benefit Enquiry Line for people with disabilities
tel: 0800 882200 (textphone: 0800 243333)
8.30am – 6.30pm Monday – Friday
9.00am –1.00pm Saturday
Age Concern
Bradbury House
12 Shakespeare Street
Nottingham
NG1 4FQ
tel: 0115 8414447
Drop in Tuesdays: 10.00am – 12.00pm.
Thousands of older carer’s are missing out on this extra money due to them. Find out if you are one of them – get advice now.
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Disclaimer
The information on this page is not legal advice. If you have a query about your benefits, you should talk to an advisor before making a decision. You may wish to call the Nottinghamshire Welfare Rights Service Adviceline on 0845 601 5943 or find your nearest independent advice centre in Nottinghamshire or take a look at the national CLS/CDS Directory.
The information on this page is for people affected by UK Social Security law.
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