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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To claim carers allowance purely to dodge 'work focused interviews'

147 replies

LuckyButton · 26/04/2017 11:07

I am disabled, so is my three year old ds.

My DH is already my carer and receiving CA for me, so when ds started receiving high rate DLA I didn't bother applying for carers myself.

Neither of us works, we receive income support etc.

However since dd turned 1 the job centre has been calling me in every two weeks or so for 'work focused interviews'

I obviously can't work, even if I could there is no employer that would touch me with a barge pole due to my health.

After going through PIP assessments for myself and the DLA for ds I didn't have the fight in me to claim ESA.

However, carers is so easy to apply for (just a quick online form) and it at least means that they can only call me in once every three years.

I don't feel like I am being unreasonable but a 'friend' is appalled according to latest her Facebook status. Apparently as I'm so disabled it's a scam for me to claim carers for ds.

On the other hand carers UK, after I listed what I do for ds said it was fine.

So, Aibu?

OP posts:

AnnieAnoniMouse · 26/04/2017 12:58

Bloody hell, could they make it any more complicated?!

There are quite a lot of 'ins and outs' that would interest me to know as I'd like a better understanding of the system & I'd like people to be able to guide you to the best 'set' of benefits to get in order to get you the best deal, with the least drama & for the longest period.

However, my answer to the question you are asking is 'No, I wouldn't think badly of you'.

I do think (being completely honest) that your DH should be the one getting a careers allowance for your DS, rather than you, but it's all income into your house and if it stops them sending you to meetings etc then do it that way & you do the claim, just be VERY sure it doesn't screw up your claims.

I can see your friends POV, in that you are clearly not able to look after your DS on your own and only really give emotional support to DS, it does seem a bit 'ridiculous' to be able to claim a 'careers allowance' but if the system is so screwed that it's the best way around it and you can do it, then do it.

Are you sure your friend isn't saying what I'm saying? The system is ridiculous.

TheMonkeyandthePlywoodViolin · 26/04/2017 13:05

Whoever said the OP can't be caring for someone with a disability because they have a disability ..wake up and smell the coffee. You have to do it, it's generally the only option if your child has a disability.

KathArtic · 26/04/2017 13:07

She's always been very friendly but apparently this is 'one thing too far and ridiculous'

If your friend knows you well and if this was her reaction perhaps she feels your disabilities are such that you don't have the ability to care for your son and therefore your claim to be a carer is fraudulent?

Original poster

LuckyButton · 26/04/2017 13:10

She definitely meant me, not the system.

I considered her a good friend, she knows my disability/limits and has also been around to see me help care for ds.

Though never for long amounts of time (think popping in got half an hour for coffee)

OP posts:

JustAnotherPoster00 · 26/04/2017 13:52

OP it just occurred to me that you said youre on the enhanced daily living component of PIP that should be enough to get you into the support group of ESA which means that you dont have to attend job centre interviews as they cannot sanction you on support group.

DoloresTheRunawayTrain · 26/04/2017 14:11

Only one person can claim carers allowance for one person which is why disabled people claiming as each others carers is allowed. So the Ops Dh cannot claim carers for her and her son, only one of them. The only way round it is for the OP to claim carers for her son as she does care for him, just not independently.

Oswin · 26/04/2017 14:26

Worra they can't force you onto jobseekers till school age. Think it might be three now though. But as soon as dc is one they can have up there for work focused interviews. Which are just a means to get you into work. They can have these as often as they want.

bostoncremecrazy · 26/04/2017 14:34

Yes claim it.
Many disabled couples claim it for caring for each other - each person using what they are able to do to care for the other person.
If you are able to care for ds for the 30 hours as required then yes...claim it without question.

WorraLiberty · 26/04/2017 14:36

Ahh thanks Oswin

Babyroobs · 26/04/2017 14:37

You'd have to be very careful about what you claim to be able to do when caring for your son if you need care yourself .

Babyroobs · 26/04/2017 14:38

It's 35 hours.

bostoncremecrazy · 26/04/2017 14:42

Sorry 35

Babyroobs · 26/04/2017 14:42

if op claimed ESA ( Income based) surely that would be taken off the Income support unless it was a joint ESA claim?

Original poster

LuckyButton · 26/04/2017 14:42

Yes it's easily over 35 hours.

I'm always supported though, I've never been on my own with ds or dd.

Yes DoloresTheRunawayTrain that's it exactly.

OP posts:

Original poster

LuckyButton · 26/04/2017 14:46

I'm very sure carers allowance will be taken off the income support too as it's taxable.

I just can't stand another meeting, twice a month has been a nightmare.

And it's such a waste of resources.

Yes, I'm still disabled. See the wheelchair and carer?

No, I still can't work.

On the off chance I was capable one day, and someone actually would employ me, I probably wouldn't be able to keep it for very long. There's only so much sick leave an employer can provide.

So I'd have to lose and reapply for all the benefits again within a few months. Spend weeks with no money.

It makes no sense.

OP posts:

Musereader · 26/04/2017 14:47

It is very totally possible and very common for a disabled person who has a carer in receipt of CA to claim CA for a third person. And unlike others on this thread i do think there are things that a person can not do for themselves but can do for others eg may not be able to put own shoes on as cannot bend far enough but can put shoes on another person sitting in front of them. Or some one needing help to shower because they are in a wheelchair doesnt mean they cannot bath a child. Or more simply one could have a mental disabilty and the other a physical, like Hodor and Bran in game of thrones.

Regardless, the minimum requirement for CA is that the person in receipt of the carers can call the emergency services if the cared for person needs.

freshmarigold · 26/04/2017 14:55

The carers allowance will be taken off income support but you get a carers premium so you would be better off by about £35. You should run it through Entitled To to get the exact amount as you have quite a few benefits overlapping in criteria.

If OP claimed income based ESA then it would have to be a joint claim as she is in a couple, she wouldn't be allowed to make a single claim. It would probably add up to a similar amount to income support so her DH wouldn't be able to get income support any more. But it would be best to go through the sums with CAB or Carers UK as she'll get premiums depending on her PIP rates.

The definition of caring for carer's allowance is very broad. It doesn't have to be physical caring or even while the person is present. It can include prompting the person by phone, or preparing the home for them while they are at school, or tidying up after them, or just keeping an eye on them to make sure they don't run out of the house. Or making calls regarding their SEN provision and writing up visual timetables. Even handing over their medication counts as caring. So even a very physically disabled person could still meet the criteria for carer's allowance.

Babyroobs · 26/04/2017 14:57

You might be better off claiming ESA on a joint claim. Therefore when you get put in the support group you won't need to go to work focussed interviews.

AndNowItIsSeven · 26/04/2017 14:59

You will get extra money , you will keep the carers and only lose approx half with income support.
And no they won't ask at your pip assessment.

Oblomov17 · 26/04/2017 15:35

The whole thing is ridiculous. I can't believe they make it so complicated that you feel like a criminal for claiming what you are entitled to.

Original poster

LuckyButton · 26/04/2017 15:58

I've just had to delete my Facebook account. I didn't use it much anyway.

'Friend' and a couple of people I don't really know from the estate are calling us scroungers and apparently I am disgusting and all that is wrong with society. Shouldn't have had children, government should cut off all benefits and let the scum see how hard it really can be.

Conveniently forgetting she's already told me she couldn't get by without tax credits, and that it's not only people like us that need them.

I want to cry, I don't have the energy to ask her what she's playing at. She's been in our home, she's seen the equipment swamping the rooms and the difficulties we face every day.

She's commiserated with me about how hard it is and now this. Over a benefit I'm entitled to anyway but just wasn't claiming before.

Sorry I'm rambling, don't want to talk about this with do until the children are in bed, I don't trust myself not to get upset.

OP posts:

marabounuts · 26/04/2017 16:01

also, if you have a disabled child and only limited access to the job market due to caring needs (e.g. only school hours as there is often no wrap around childcare), the job centre will probably try to shove you onto carers allowance anyways. Happened to me when I was made redundant. One of the DC is severely disabled, I could have claimed CA but wanted to claim contribution based JSA as it was £11/week more and I was genuinely looking for work.I had a huge argument at the job centre. They didn't want me in JSA but wanted me to claim CA instead. I didn't give in though and found another role quickly. but it was just ridiculous.

HelenaDove · 26/04/2017 16:20

Lucky that is no friend.

That is a disabilist.

Bumbumtaloo · 26/04/2017 16:28

LuckyButton it's easier said than done, I know, but please ignore them! You do not need people like that in your lives. As long as you, your husband family and true friends know the truth that is all that matters

I only became too ill to work after having my two dd's ironically one my conditions was only discovered after I had dd2 and was sterilised if we weren't trying to be responsible my life would have taken a very different turn!!!!

People like that make me so bloody angry they have no clue the struggles people go through on a daily basis but are the first to judge.

Original poster

LuckyButton · 26/04/2017 18:06

Thank you, ordinarily I would just ignore but my phone kept beeping as they were 'tagging' me in the status.

OP posts:

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