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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want more benefits?

275 replies

CheeseAndSprinkles · 29/02/2016 14:03

I care for 2 of my children but I'm only able to claim one amount of carers allowance. I save the country a lot of money by caring for my children, I wouldn't have it any other way, but the extra money would be extremely helpful. It's a pittance anyway. So am I BU?

OP posts:
Micah · 29/02/2016 14:18

It does seem unfair, quite like the fact you can't claim carers allowance and widow benefit together either

My friends mum was caught in this- she was widowed at 40, with a young disabled child. It was CA or widow's pension, not both.

CA is supposed to compensate for not being able to work while caring, IIRC? So technically housingB, DLA x2, Tax credits etc should cover your main costs, with CA as a top up. As you can't give up your job twice, you only get it once.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 29/02/2016 14:18

YANBU. Caring for two disabled children is obviously harder work, and more work, than caring for just the one. You are also less likely to be able to fit in PT work with two disabled children at home - you can earn up to £100 PW and still received CA for those you weren't aware.

£62.10 is a pittance, as you say, for what is essentially a FT job.

Some people just don't seem to understand that for lots of children out there there is no available childcare/daycare. Staying at home to look after your disabled child yourself isn't always a choice!

Owllady · 29/02/2016 14:19

The most surprising benefit of being a carer has been the lack of sleep and being able to see the night into day, it's such a fulfilling feeling. The ageing effect on my skin means I no longer get asked for id in shops, which I find an amazing bonus. I count myself very lucky.

Gileswithachainsaw · 29/02/2016 14:20

Yanbu

I don't know anything about it but I can well believe that it even remotely covers things you need to provide fir your children as a result of their conditions. so not enough money to care for one divided between two must he pretty tough going.

Gileswithachainsaw · 29/02/2016 14:20

That it isn't

RudeElf · 29/02/2016 14:20

Is carer's allowance means tested? Is that why you cant have it because the one claim brings your income up to the threshold?

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 29/02/2016 14:21

who weren't aware - not you!

ZiggyFartdust · 29/02/2016 14:21

Carers allowance is intended to somewhat ameliorate the effect of not being able to work in paid employment due to caring duties. So if you hold down a full time job you are not being a full time carer, and there is nothing to compensate you for.
If you are caring for two children full time, then you are still just one person, so one lot of carers allowance. You say there is obviously a need for another carer, but there isn't if you are doing it.

Gileswithachainsaw · 29/02/2016 14:21

Doesn't

ffs sorry I'm. Sure you know what I mean I'll give up typing now Blush

ZiggyFartdust · 29/02/2016 14:22

Thats not to say that carers allowance shouldn't be more, it should. But its a payment per carer, not per child/relative.

Original poster
CheeseAndSprinkles · 29/02/2016 14:22

No sadly, dh works just enough for us not to be.
I suppose funkypeacock, if the ca was at better rate, then I probably wouldn't give the 2nd one a another thought. But as testing says, £1.75 an hour, I mean come on...

OP posts:
SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 29/02/2016 14:23

RudeElf - yes, you must have earnings of less than £100 PW to claim CA (this includes some, but not all, other benefits).

And there is only one award per Carer, no matter how low your income is or how many people you caring for.

tomatodizzy · 29/02/2016 14:24

Unfortunatly you cannot claim more than one set of carer's allowance. I admit this does seem very unfair, it should have a system where a second person doesn't double the amount, but gives 15 pounds more or something. I suggest you make sure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to as well.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 29/02/2016 14:26

I hear you. I care for 3 people.

TheFairyCaravan · 29/02/2016 14:27

Carers Allowance is paid if you care for someone for 35 hours or more a week. DH does that for me and holds down a full time job, so you're wrong Ziggy. He doesn't actually want to be paid CA, tbh, but I'm highlighting that the system is unfair full stop.

There is no care package available to us, there's no respite, nothing. And it's disabled adults who are having their DLA taken away hand over fist as it's being changed over to PIP and as a consequence they're losing their CA and their only source of income. It's an absloutely horrendous time to be disabled and over 16 in this country.

JuxtapositionRecords · 29/02/2016 14:27

An adult caring for a disabled adult is hugely different from an an adult caring for 2 disabled children fairycaravan

Op can you not get a carer in to help you a few hours a week if this would be funded?

tabulahrasa · 29/02/2016 14:29

It's not even really £1.75 an hour though...because you don't get to stop being a carer after you've done your 35 hours that week.

It's also taxable if you do have other income and even better if the person you're claiming it for caring for is on means tested benefits they can try and claw it back from them.

It's an absolute joke of a benefit tbh.

Original poster
CheeseAndSprinkles · 29/02/2016 14:30

Carers get a rough deal Confused

OP posts:
2016Hopeful · 29/02/2016 14:33

YANBU - I think carers allowance should be more generous in general.

elliejjtiny · 29/02/2016 14:36

YANBU. I'm in the same situation as you. 2 qualifying disabled dc (which is hard to get btw, I also have 3 other disabled dc who don't qualify as their disabilities aren't severe enough.) and 1 lot of carers allowance. I've given up my career and risked my own health to care for these 2 children. I think carers allowance should be minimum wage with extra added on if you care for multiple people.

dickiedavisthunderthighs · 29/02/2016 14:38

Carers get a seriously rough time of things in this country. If you cannot work because you have to care full time for someone else then you need to be recompensed AT LEAST minimum wage i.e. what you could be earning if you weren't caring.
It's totally different to providing benefits for someone who has the option to work i.e. someone able-bodied/able-minded. You can't work so how are you supposed to survive? It's rubbish.

BeyondBootcampsAgain · 29/02/2016 14:39

My dh cant even claim carers allowance as they'd tax it and take it off my (ie, our joint) esa. So he has nothing that is actually in his name.

Original poster
CheeseAndSprinkles · 29/02/2016 14:39

I agree ellie, extra added on is a great idea. My health is suffering just now. Both my dc are in school now and I would love to be out working but I'm exhausted. And judged by others! Sad

OP posts:
sharpedges · 29/02/2016 14:40

I hear you OP. I have two DS's on DLA and some of the rules around benefits are so unfair to families with disabled children - DLA being removed when they're in hospital, only one payment of CA, only being able to apply once for some grants like Family Fund. It's twice as much work as having just one disabled child but we don't get twice as much money!

Is there another person who could help you out and claim the second lot of CA? I have my DSis helping out with my DS's so she has been claiming the CA for DS2. It also means she gets passported to IS which is good for her as she stopped being entitled as a single mum when her DD turned 5, so it helps her out too.

SaveSomeSpendSome · 29/02/2016 14:40

You could get a family member or friend to claim the carers allowance for the child you dont get it for and then they could help out dramatically with the day to day things. If they rent then they would get housing benefit and council tax benefit plus income support and then the carers allowance ontop.

Obviously the person would have to give up their full time job to receive all of the above but if you have a family member or friend close by who wants to take on the role and is willing to give their job up then its an option for you.

You would still claim DVLA for your two children so would not be finanically worse off in any way.

I have experience of people who have done this in my family so i know you can do it.