does carers allowance affect other benefits

[bubble78]

thats it really my son get dla at the high care rate i just wondered if i claim careers allowance does it make other benefits go down?

[crimplene]

Hello bubble78.

It's very complicated, but if you're getting income support you may be able to get a 'carer's premium' on top of the IS instead of the carer's allowance. It's less than the carer's but it's still more than the IS alone. Plus the 'underlying entitlement' to the Carers has an effect on other things I think like state second pension contributions, but someone else may know better about that. With other benefits, it depends on which benefit I think; some it does affect, some it doesn't.

[onlyjoking9329]

it is all a bit complicated and in truth i don't know the answer but i do know that if your son gets high rate DLA you should tell the CTC as you will get an extra payment.

[lottiejenkins]

When i got awarded Widowed Mothers Allowance i lost my Carers Allowance.

[bubble78]

thanks guys i have told ctc...

dont get any other benifits eg. income support, but i know its not worth claiming for if it just means ctc will go down.

[dgeorgea]

You don't need to get the high rate to get the increase in CTC. We informed IRS when we were awarded low level for mobility and care and were told as long as she got the mobility element at whatever level we were entitled to the higher CTC rate.

We thought we might lose some, but didn't want to get into debt with the IRS.

[crimplene]

Carers is a 'taxable' benefit so it would depend on how much CTC you get whether it would go down and by how much. It could affect it, but you may well be better off with it and it might not affect it at all if your income's fairly low.