To think disabled people and their carers are being screwed yet again?

[Bingbong21]

Disabled DC. Their father walked away 2 years ago as he couldn't cope with them.

Both my DC in their own right are entitle to someone to claim carers allowance for them. I can only claim for one.

Officially carers allowance is for at least 35 hours week care. DC1 does 9-2.30 5 days a week at school so 27.5 hours. There are 140 remaining hours, DC1 sleeps approx 3-4 hours a night so that's 28 hours. Leaving 112 awake hours with just me, over triple the 35 hours of carers allowance expectations. Both children are throughout their EHCPs noted to require 1-1 care. DC1 when out needs 2-1. Still just me.

Carers allowance is £68 a week for 35 hours care. This for one person is less than £2 per hour.

The short period we had respite (6 months whilst we were in crisis) the carer was paid £10 p/h.

They of course receive DLA which doesn't cover their disability costs.

The loss of the £20 uplift has been devastating for us. I lost my well paid job because of DC1's needs. We went from a 2 parent, 65k combined income a year to lone parent. I can't get any form of childcare for DC1 to enable my return to work. No one is willing to fund the 1-1 support DC1 needs to access holiday provision and universal credit childcare costs does not come close as there isn't an additional allowance to cover the extra care a child may need to enable them to attend. Likewise, EHCPs do not cover after school provision.

Budget just now has specifically penalised those of us not working, the disabled and their carers will be the hardest hit. I have no idea how we will survive winter.

AIBU to think its those least able to change their circumstances who are being most punished?

Have you looked into personal budget? You could use it to hire a support worker/PA for your DC so you can work.

@HikingforScenery we were assessed and not eligible.

The 6 month period we were we got 9 hours per week

Now that the Tories aren't obliged to support lots of people who might vote for them they've got no reason not to go back to trying to kill off the group's they don't like with deliberately terrible social policy. They're back on austerity and all about it being necessary after they wasted all that money on their buddies dodgy PPE and unworkable ap contracts etc.

Don't vote Tory

Encourage everyone you know or might have a sympathetic ear to also not vote Tory

You will find many don't care if it doesn't directly affect them, or they believe rival parties will negatively affect them

Sorry about your circumstances, I would check money matters section about budget and look at other sites/online resources to check you are getting all you are entitled to and all offers/schemes/discounts/support etc you might be eligible for

I agree it's awful. I would love nothing more than to have a career but with a disabled partner and a disabled child it isn't physically impossible to work more then a few hours a week. There is just no hope left in improving the circumstances of the disabled and their carers. The work carers do everyday is invisible, not respected and saves the country alot of money. They keep these groups living in poverty out of pure choice, they want to. As if the mental health of disabled people and their carers isn't bad enough with many people past breaking point.

Nope not U at all.

I've been trying to get bits of my house made accessible for years, im currently waiting for someone to come and assess it, and it's looking like the adaptations IF i actually get a grant, would be 18 months to 2 years or more down the line after that assessment.

I may have died by then.

In the meantime it's just fine for me to have to crawl up my stairs risking falls, use a bedpan downstairs when I can't and be completely unable to cook or even prep a snack.

One of the issues slowing things down further is that im self employed and the sole earner (himself can't work due to my care needs) and as I have to work from home, I need solutions that allow me to continue doing that, and this is apparently highly unusual and I've been told multiple times I'd be better off if I didn't work.. I mean obviously not financially... id be much worse off but that's just fine!

^possible

U.K. carers allowance is far too low. It should be at least the same as the National Minimum Wage and then have a locality plus up for high cost of living areas like London.

YANBU OP.

This is why I don’t vote Tory.

Who the hell could vote YABU?

It’s the Tories come what May “work must pay”. It seemed particular cruel to offer money if you fly more in reduced fees and cuts tax on booze yet not a penny for carers and disabled who lost their £20 UC. Who cannot do anything improve their lot. Least working UC had around £8 but again so unfair when reasons you can’t work are beyond your control.

Carers should least job seekers level even x2/3 it is full time job and then some. After pandemic we still can’t give carers standard liveable rate but paid £1000 day track trace consultant sit there and do nothing.

Lots of carers who get carers allowance are also in receipt of tax credits/ universal credit ,if they increase the carers ,allowance to minimum wage most will be no better off as tax credits/ universal credit will just be reduced ,those of us still on tax credits didn't get the up lift btw .

Are you claiming child maintenance from the absent father ?

@x2boys

Lots of carers who get carers allowance are also in receipt of tax credits/ universal credit ,if they increase the carers ,allowance to minimum wage most will be no better off as tax credits/ universal credit will just be reduced ,those of us still on tax credits didn't get the up lift btw .

Very true it’s not like You get UC basic rate then carers for working all those hours. It’s just taken off. I’m On ESA not UC so we got no Increase either.

You're not wrong. I'm on carer's allowance as my eldest child is disabled. I get child benefit for my other kids, but that's it. My husband's wage is determined to be too high for me to get anymore support.

I can't work. If I followed the Mumsnet stereotypical advice of keeping finances separate from my husband, I'd be fucked. Fortunately he allows me to have control over his wages as he's not just in it for himself.

I absolutely empathise with you op.

Carers Allowance is a pittance.
Carers who care for disabled children giving up their jobs are also shafted because they will have to rely on the state pension as no contribution is made towards a private pension

Who the hell could vote YABU?

Well someone voted these people into power.

The carers/disability benefits being deducted is another thing that needs a massive change and is pretty outrageous.

Between the DC they get nearly £700 4-weekly DLA which I frequently get told is loads and we have a high income. Their disabilities cost far more than their DLA :(

I also would never vote tory but live in a tory very safe seat.

I know it's not loads my son gets HRC and HRM due to SMI rules it doesn't go far .

I also am a carer and earn the allowed amount per week.
I think the cap should be lifted as I could earn more but not allowed to and carer's allowance is a pittance.
If I can earn more and still do the 35 hours (much more BTW as disabled parent lives with me)
they why are they stopping me??

@SickAndTiredAgain

Who the hell could vote YABU?

Well someone voted these people into power.

Well tbh despite having a disabled child ,I would trust the labour lot even less ,both party's are shite ,it's the best if a very bad lot .

@Antiopa12

Carers Allowance is a pittance. Carers who care for disabled children giving up their jobs are also shafted because they will have to rely on the state pension as no contribution is made towards a private pension

Many older people are still caring for their adult sons and daughters; carers allowance isn't paid once you're in receipt of a state pension.

Jusr to point out I didn't vote YABU