[paula]

Hi!

Been a manic week these last two weeks, with a combination of sickness and the runs, and chicken pox. I have got exam on Monday which I am frantically revising for and John has gone away to France for a week cycling, the day after giving his notice in at work. Anyway, in the melee of trying to find passport etc and rearranging the spare room which is now going to be his office, I have lost my file about benefits. Does any one know if there is a limit to the hours that you can work before your carers allowance is stopped. Because John is going to be at home for when the kids get home from school , I am applying for teaching assistant jobs but am trying to work out how we are going to be financially.

Looking forward to Monday evening after exam - have got bottle of wine cooling in fridge already (not sure it is going to last that long though!!)

Many thanks

Paula

[pixie]

It sounds mad at yours Paula, a little like here most of the time.

Carers allowance is payable if you meet the critera. ie you care for 35 hours a week.

A parent working fulltime is fine because the 35 hours easily cover weekends and evenings.

Carers Allowance is only concerned with the above and the amount you earn.

I think the amount is around £90 ish a week now, but check that as it changed fairly recently.

I hope that helps and that things calm down a little for you at home.

[Speeds]

Good luck with the changes.

Stupidly it is not how often you work it is how much you earn which to me means that I cannot claim carers allowance depsite the fact that I care for two disabled people. 

This is from the following link

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/DG_10012522

Who cannot get Carer's Allowance?

You cannot get Carer's Allowance if you are in full-time education with 21 hours or more a week of supervised study or earn more than £95 a week after certain deductions have been made (such as Income Tax).

[pixie]

Thanks for clarifying that Speeds, I didn't have the info to hand so thanks for posting that.

You also cannot get carers allowance if you receive Incapacity Benefit or once you reach pension age.

It's ridiculous isn't it.

Good luck with everything Paula.

[paula]

Thanks all! There is a lot to think about, isn't there. Saw the news yesterday and they said that Carers save the economy £87 million a year!! Shame that they don't put more our way, eh!

[Speeds]

Yes Paula but then they would not have saved themselves so much !!!!!!

Also they do not take in to consideration people like Dom and I who do our own caring and if we need carers, pay privately.

They must be saving a fortune.

Grrrrrrrrr - I hate governments and politics

[Nikki]

just been reading your posts regarding carer's allowance.  It makes me really mad as well that I can't claim carer's allowance for looking after N.  I only go to work 1 day a week as a locum, and don't qualify.  It's like I'm being penalised for contributing towards the economy.

Stupidly it is not how often you work it is how much you earn which to me means that I cannot claim carers allowance depsite the fact that I care for two disabled people. 

My husband and I both work part time - it's like we job share.  If 1 of us didn't work and the other worked full time we could get carer's allowance ( which, by the way is so little it is an absolute insult).

Thing is - I go to work that 1 day for my own sanity!  I think it's intrinsically wrong that carers allowance is means tested.

All these reforms that are being made regarding carers are all in England.  Maybe the Scottish government should consider this too.

Sorry - have had a bad day.............rant over!!

Nikki

[Speeds]

Totally with you there Nicki - we are in same situation.

xx