To think referring to certain benefits as unearned income is wrong and insulting

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

The benefit in mind is carers allowence.

I have noticed on a few different LA's housing benefit letters that carers allowence is listed under unearned income,and it has made me very cross.

It is not unearned (obviously with the normal my next door neighbours hairdressers dog has a neighbour whose sisters best friend claims it fraudulently and belly laughs about it so much she wets herself exclusion) and I think not acknowledging that

A. It is earnt and
B. how hard it is to earn

Is really wrong?

YANBU But then nearly everything about Carers Allowance needs changing as far as I can see

Isn't it marked as unearned because it is not due to have tax paid on it?

well, YANBU but you could probably say the same about most benefits.

JSA - the person does a lot of work just looking for work

income support - a single SAHM of a young child probably does similar work to a carer

WTC/HB/DLA - often go to people in work.

The only unearned benefits, imo, are disability and incapacity benefits (not DLA) but that isn't the recipient's fault.

It's a benefit given by the government so not earned. Earnings are income from employment.

pretty sure its to do with tax and should read nontaxable income surely they are not so stupid to put unearned on it?

oh hang on sorry forgot i live in ENGLAND

Carers Allowance is taxable.

If it was 'earned' then it would be employment....

I think it's disgusting this benefit is classed as income, but child maintence isn't

A fair point but what would you call it instead?

It is there to replace the income that Carers can't earn because they have to care for a disabled person. Obviously if it was couched in terms of employment then it would be subject to the NMW and would be a lot more. It would also obviously cost a lot more if someone that didn't receive Carers Allowance were paid to do the Caring for the disabled person whilst the person that used to receive the Carers Allowance went out to work.

That is why it is called Carers Allowance and not Carers Benefit and it is taxable.

Itv honk you're taking offence where mine is meant, so YABU

*i think.

Stupid phone

*none

Ahhhh

If it was earned you'd need to get holidays and overtime!

Technically it's correct, but still an insult.

And sick pay...but then you can't ever be sick anyway if you're a Carer.

Why would you go digging for issues?

Child maintenence is completely different. It's for a child

It's a benefit given by the government so not earned. Earnings are income from employment

You have to work at least 35 hours to get it and it is payment for those hours, so it is earnt its just earnt from the government

Child Benefit is also for a child, however for HB purposes it is also classified as Income (unearned!). Not that that relates to Carers Allowance as in this thread, but just pointing it out.

Why would you go digging for issues?

It's not digging I happen to read loads of benefit letters and happened to register it and thought I think that's not really cricket.

I think it should go in the earned income section and should be treated as earnings after all its taxable,and taken into account as earning are and you have to do an actual real job to get it.

The gov pays it because its an easy way to discharge a duty of care and save shit loads per carer

Carer’s Allowance is £61.35 a week to help you look after someone with substantial caring needs.

Minimum wages is £6.31 for over 21

Carers get £1.75 per hour, way below the minimum wage.

So if the government class this as earned money they should pay a career the NMW

Well I also think it should match NMW but I expect that's probably a bit to much for the money guards to cope with and not expect them to spontaneously combust in a frothing mess

Also in assessments for WTC, Carers Allowance is regarded as Income so although HB might not recognize it as earned income, HMRC certainly do.