Carer's Allowance

[neverputasockinatoaster]

DS gets DLA and I also get Carer's.

This is quite new to us and I am still finding my way around the system.

In the letter it talks about the person you care for going on holiday. If DS goes to my mum's do I need to inform them before or afterwards?

My mum is the only person other than us that can deal with him on her own. He and DD are going for a couple of days but I'm not sure how long they will stay. He might have to come back if he can't cope.....

I will take them down on a Friday, stay overnight and come back alone on the Saturday.
Mum then will bring them back on Tuesday or Wednesday.

I suppose I sould tell them before the date shouldn't I?

[senvet]

Is this a first time trial, and you are in effect on call whilst dd is at your mum's?

I think this ought to be relevant, but do not actually know the system to be able to tell you the answer, sorry

I also think that you mum is becoming the carer and ought to get a slice of the money. It is a very different scenario from two weeks of paid respite.

Hope someone can answer it for you

[neverputasockinatoaster]

They've been before but I am always on call......

I will ring and ask tomorrow I think.

[ouryve]

So long as you're caring for more than the required 35 hours a week, there should be no problem.

[pannetone]

I think the 'rule' is that you need to have done 35 hours caring each week to get your carer's allowance. I get my carer's allowance paid on a Monday (does everyone?) so I take it that my 35 hours of caring has to be over a period which runs from Monday to the following Sunday. So in your scenario I would calculate if I had done 35 hours of caring from the Monday DS was at home, round to the next Mon - when he will hopefully still be with your mum. Then I would calculate the next week from the Mon DS was away, round to the following Mon - when DS would have been back at home Tue/Wed.

Don't know if I am making any sense! But, basically, if on the days you have DS you are providing more than 5 hours care (probably not hard), you can still be caring for a total of 35 hours over a week even if he has been away from you for some of it.

[pannetone]

ourye has put it much more succintly!

[pannetone]

ouryve - cross post and mis - spelling!

[Lifesalemon]

I think you are allowed short breaks too without it affecting your payments similar to having holidays with pay if you were working outside of the home but can't remember exact details. Should be on Gov. UK website though.

[neverputasockinatoaster]

I've just found a website that says

You can take a break from caring for up to 4 weeks in every 26 weeks and still be paid CA. You must have been providing 35 hours or more of care a week per week for at least 22 of the past 26 weeks. The person you have been caring for must have been in receipt of a qualifying benefit for that period.

BUT When DS goes to my mum's I won't have been receiving carers for 26 weeks. I will, however, have been caring for him for longer than that.....

I think I shall add up some hours.

[ouryve]

Just calculate it over the first 26 weeks. If you haven't got to 26 weeks yet, then don't worry about it.

And he's only going away for a long weekend. He can be away for most of the week, every week and you could still fulfil your 35 hour obligation, if he's not a reliable sleeper.

[2old2beamum]

I was under the impression that carers were allowed a holiday (large hollow laughs) despite being taken as mugs!!!!!

When DS was at residential college Monday-Friday I was still able to claim cares allowance as he was at home Friday PM -Monday AM thus complying with the stipulated hours.

Enjoy your rest with a clear conscience

[neverputasockinatoaster]

DH and I have come to that conclusion.

He's off on a school residential in June but I am completely and utterly on standby/call for that one! In fact I might have to go and stay nearby.....

He's done residentials before but they've been shorter and nearer so I could always get there. This one is miles away!