Claiming Carers & Pip at same time?

[Foxxo]

Has anyone claimed PIP for themselves, while also getting carers allowance?

I'm currently my sons carer (he has asd/adhd/dyspraxia/arfid/anxiety/spd) and his care is mostly supervisory, finances/emotional support, with food prep and some help dressing here and there on his bad days. He can't be left alone, doesn't sleep/wanders at night time..etc.

I have degenerative disk disease and arthritis, and walk with a cane, have a blue badge, occasionally need a wheelchair on long days out now, and am at the point that someone has suggested i claim PIP for myself to help with costs of living that my own disability is impacting on (keeping car on road, mobility aid costs, extra gas/electric, accessible clothing...etc)

I'm not sure if i can though.. someone's said that my acting as a carer is likely to go against me, even though my son and i muddle through best we can together, and the things i have to do for him aren't really impacted on.

My partner was temporarily claiming carers allowance on my behalf whilst claiming pip and it wasn't deemed an issue. But of course if you're concerned best to ask pip directly. All the best

This is perfectly fine. Lots and lots of people claim pip and carers allowance. There are only problems when the pip claim and the carers allowance claim contradict each other - for example if someone with a physical disability also claimed to be doing lots of physical care. It's clear from your description that that isn't the case for you.

For your pip claim, make sure you read the pip descriptors and explain how your condition meets the criteria for a pip award.

I'm sure my grandparents claimed PIP and were each others carers and each received Carers Allowance. I remember my gran telling me.

Loads of people do this, I do. You just have to make sure nothing contradicts the two claims - for example if you’re saying in your PIP claim you can’t use your upper arm strength to do something and then the person you’re caring for needs regular restraint etc.

You can but i would be cautious of you saying your son needs help dressing as they might see that as you contradicting yourself with your physical disabilities

You can so long as it doesn’t contradict. For example you couldn’t say you need help dressing and score points for that, but then claim carers because of helping your son get dressed.

if your pip is for example for things like walking distance and doesn’t contradict your caring eg can’t stand or walk long and sit whilst helping son get dressed etc then it’s fine.

they don't clash.. the help he needs is things like doing zips/buttons up or putting his socks on, tying his laces...etc... i just have to sit down while doing it, and he sits next to me!

I have no issues with upper body strength, mine is all lower body/mobility/chronic back/hip pain related.

Get your pip application together then :)