or naive, to be so shocked about carers payments?

[boschy]

My DM, aged 83 gets lower level attendance allowance. Her mobility has significantly declined recently so I spoke to Age UK about the chance of increasing it.

To get higher level, a princely £80 per week, you have to have someone in the house all night, and ideally apparently sitting up with the person, rather than sleeping in the next room as I have been doing.

To get carers allowance, another magnificent sum of £59.75 per week, you have to provide care for 35 hours per week - oh, and if you earn more than £100 a week you're not entitled to it anyway. And its taxable.

I always knew carers got a raw deal, but this just absolutely takes the piss. I love my mum, and I am doing 35 hours caring a week at the moment, the fact that I wont get the allowance wont stop me of course.

I am just so so shocked at the low level of the money. How on earth does anyone manage to survive?

I hope that as she gets better her mobility will improve and I will be less involved - but carers of the world, I salute you.

MSRYANGOSLING

You mentioned in reply to my earlier posting about carers allowance and state pension that I might be entitled to carer's premium. I have been on pension credit and entitled to but they don't mention it at all where do I ring to find out about it ?

Five rabbits
0800 99 1234 Pension credit claim helpline

Go to the Age UK web site . They have a very detailed fact sheet on pension credit. Page 14 describes underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance and its impact on pension credit

Carers are considered to be "benefits scroungers" by the general population. We are regarded in the same light as Jeremy Kyle show participants.

At the end of the day we choose to do it - all of us could walk away forever from our caring responsibilities today, and put the state in sole charge of our loved ones, young or old.

If we choose to do the right thing by our families society penalises us for it. It's not right, just or fair but it is how it is. We have to accept that, or be driven nuts by the sheer injustice.

ZEBRAFINCH

Thank you for the information.

Carers allowance is nothing more than an insult and another way to keep the poor in their place.

I would love, just for a day for all carers to walk away and let the state pick up the slack. The entire system will crumble in a matter of hours.

OP i was told the same thing That to claim i would have to be awake all night with DH and not sleep.

This was six years ago.

Carers allowence is not based on when the care is required as long as its more than 35 hours a week.

However you can deduct a % of any pension contributions (apart from the NI voluntary ones think its cat 3) and any childcare costs from your earned income.

You know what pisses me off the most about CA and other benefits is that most HB depts on their letters put CA as 'unearned income' like fuck is it unearned!

darkesteyes that's absolutely not the case and it is very rarely tested anyway. You simply state that you care 35+ for someone getting the appropriate level of DLA or AA

Yup, us caring people are rolling in gold and diamonds.

bowhead yes!!!!!!!!!

Someone mentioned above that Carers Allowance has been low for ten years or more. That's true - but what has changed are the benefits cuts to people with disabilities. Many carers live with the disabled person they care for (not all, of course) and so that income has often been shared.

Each disabled person is now facing upto six cuts each to benefits and services. Many are losing DLA on the transfer to PIP, or being found fit for work. Out of everyone the Bedroom Tax impacts two thirds are disabled.

I'm in my 20s and disabled, and will probably have to live with my mum for a long time - unless I get 24 hour carers provided. Out of my benefits I pay towards bills, shopping, etc and my housing benefit pays half the rent. If any of those are cut - that would hit my carer, my mum.

If people have disabled children they will likely use their increased tax credits, etc on keeping a roof over their heads, feeding them, etc.

So all this has put added pressure on the carer too.

I'm so glad the OP brought this to mumsnetters' attention. I'm surprised so few people knew caring was such a bum deal.

Can I make a plea? If you've got some spare time and you know a carer, pass the time of day, see if you can help - it may just be fetching a few things from the shop or popping in for a coffee. As well as being hard up, careers are often isolated.

Carers ffs.

I have heard that there are some services available for carers like coffee mornings, massage therapy, support groups, social events etc. But I just cannot see how, if you are a carer, you can access any of these things.

In between going to work, supporting my children, in particular my youngest who is doing GCSEs, cooking, shopping and fighting the system for my elderly relatives, visiting the care home for the one with dementia (and constantly looking for/replacing the lost teeth, glasses, hearing aid, shoes, clothes etc), not to mention the endless hospital appointments for everyone, I don't even have time for any sort of social life, never mind carers' support/events. Although I am sure they are marvellous for anyone who can access them.

I am hoping I will actually get a lunch break at work tomorrow (work in NHS so unlikely) because I really need to sort out repairs to FIL's wheelchair. If I can't do it tomorrow it will have to wait till next week. So it goes on, and I have had 20 years of it.

It is relentless and TBH I am beginning to think the relative in the care home will outlive us all, because at least they are being fed/watered and medicated regularly. (£900 per week, until the money runs out, then a big battle to keep said relative in the dementia unit where there is a qualified nurse. A social worked whom none of us have ever met has assessed said relative and decreed that nursing care is not required...)

My heart breaks for parents who care for disabled children because they have no hope, very little support and the terrible worry of what will happen to their children when they are gone.

None of this is appreciated by government or anyone who isn't a carer, as far as I can see.

Attendance allowance and carer's allowance is but a drop in the bucket of the ongoing cost to carers, who save the state a fortune in care costs.

And breathe. It has been a difficult weekend.

I've heard of those too.

To be honest, by the time I remember to actually get in contact with them, they've either had their funding withdrawn or I just plain can't be bothered.

It's shameful, what a 'great' nation we are.

In my experience C a R e R s seem to stay away from each other.

I can access the coffee mornings, support groups etc because they take place during school hours. I don't work because it's too hard trying to juggle everything when we have appointments/problems with school etc. But when dd is managing well with school then I use that time to recuperate - attend things like exercise classes, swimming (free for carers in our borough), catching up with friends and family, bulk shopping so we have plenty in stock for more stressed-out times.

The support group/social groups are invaluable for me as it keeps me in touch with others in the same boat locally, and they often run information sessions as well so keeps us up to date with changes to welfare/education. It seems we're quite fortunate in our area as I have some good friends who also have disabled children and I think it's a good supportive community. There is a carer's grant as well, which I've used to pay for online learning and things like theatre trips, but you can spend it on whatever would help you.

Social isolation is a major issue for many carers, and a major part of the reason their plight goes unseen by the general population. Carers don't have the opportunity to get out there and campaign to improve their lot!

Personally I had NO idea there was such a thing as a carers grant, & don't have childcare to attend support groups. The advent of online shopping was a Godsend though.

Carers rate is a disgrace, I have three teenagers who have autism, they all get DLA, but I can't have carers allowance, because I get widowed parents allowance, thou I don't get full widowed allowance cos I have chronic health issues and in receipt of ESA.
I don't know if this is true.
I've been told that my twin daughters will be able to claim carers for each other once they finish college.

Maybe we don't help ourselves by putting on a brave face and struggling on.
My sister phoned last week excited about a social event on at the weekend . " You'll love it zebrafinch, come along and enjoy yourself, it will be good for you". She knows my circumstances, she knows I have never had a Friday night out, my adult son cannot be left alone for a minute, that a person trained in oxygen administration, suction, PEG feeding etc etc etc is needed to replace me . I guess in her excitement she just forgot?
My family are lovely but even they don't get it.

Actually I feel a bit bad about my previous post. I am very lucky compared to other Carers . As a lone parent of someone who has extremely high complex medical needs, I do get help for my son. It's been very hard won over the years but the statutory services have stepped up for us. With a lot of warning I possibly could have made arrangements for that Friday night by putting my son into respite. I was just surprised that even a family member who is lovely and knows the huge responsibility and the lack of spontaneity in my life could have forgotten this.

Just wondering why they won't put the money up as it is such a pittance but the upshot would be that everyone as they aged, unless you unexpectedly drop dead of something with no previous illness, will need care so there will be almost as many carers as elderly people which will mount to a huge bill. Everyone needs some help as they age, and eventually can't do things for themselves, so a decent amount of money would total up to a huge amount due to numbers.

Though I don't see why they can't provide more when DCs are disabled for perhaps 10 years as an assistance to allow the parent carer to establish a career/workplace skills.

There is no way that I would ever consider a caret as a scrounge r as I have just read up post and I am shocked that this may ever be the case.
If we only talk in money terms -which I'm doing due to the above idea- carers save this country money and are unsung heroes in my view and I have seen many exhausted carer s and isolated ones.
I am a social worker and I consider that if a carer wishes they are to be seen as important as the person who has been referred to me - indeed carers should have their own needs treated as a individual .carers charters and rights exist -and so they should.
As for th e attendance allowance - always but the worst day not the best day as examples - the person who assesses sea the clAim needs a very clear idea and cannot find it unless it is spelled out. This allowance is not based on a walking watch it is based on what you need / identified need not what you get. Do not give in do not be daunted op . I fill in these forms in my own time with carers which I'm not really supposed to as I feel that the form is like a book. I think age cuk help. All the best and I am fuming on yr behalf! It makes me mad that incorrect or half accurate or lazy info can make a difference to people the info right at the start should be good in order for the person to go diwn the right path .

I've been told that my twin daughters will be able to claim carers for each other once they finish college.

Previously that was possible and people already doing that type of thing can continue to do so for the time being, but it has been announced that it is to be stopped. I'm not sure if the new policy has already started, but the Tories did discuss it a few years ago and stated that two people would not be allowed to claim carers for each other if they are getting DLA/PIP.