To ask if you are a carer, how do your finances work?

[kcpatsy]

I know it's a bit of a personal question, but I'm in a dilemma and don't know what to do for the best.

I currently work full time, as does my partner. We both earn about 22k.

I have a very high needs autistic son and realistically, I'd like to give up work to be a carer for him. At the minute, we rely on our parents for childcare when he isn't at nursery, but this is becoming really strained and stressful for him as like I said he has high needs and needs a lot of care and attention.

I'm worn out from working full time and doing the majority of the caring whilst my partner works. I'm in a job at the moment which I like a lot but is very demanding, can be stressful and there isn't the option of going part time.

I've done the benefits calculators, and we would be about £300 worse off each month. Is it just a case of not being able to give up work to care for him? I know a few people irl in similar situations who are also carers and they seem to manage, but for us it appears impossible

What do people do in this situation?

Have you applied for DLA? It's not means tested. That will help and if you are awarded DLA I think you can get an enhanced rate of universal credit if you are entitled to it.

Could either you or your partner work evenings or weekends, assuming the other one works week days so you can both work but one of you is available for your child at all times.

Is that £22k each or between you? I'm guessing each.

If your son is under 16 and he qualifies for DLA you can register to become his carer.

I believe this gives you an extra boost as you'll have the child element plus a disabled child element on Universal credit. You'll also have the DLA money.

If you are a registered carer and your child is a young adult over 18 you can get 25% off your council tax.

I'm not exactly sure how much this works out to. I did calculations for a friend recently who was about the same working or full time carer. But she had to find wrap around childcare for her autistic child in order to work and the cost was prohibitive.

You both work FT and earn the same, but you do the majority of the caring. Why is that?

As your partner is not exhausted by caring, could he take in extra hours, look for a better paid job to make up the shortfall?

You can apply for DLA and carers allowance which helps and it possibly helps with universal credit in terms of not having to look for work (i dont know about this so you'd need advice). You can also earn a v small amount and still get carers allowance.

What i have found is I couldnt maintain a full time career type job but I can do a flexible part time job which pays more than carers allowance. So it might be a change in type of job is as helpful. Especially if your partner is able to also make some changes to their work arrangements.

It depends on your individual circumstances I gave up.work when my son was three as he's severely Autistic and has comp!ex needs i.was a nurse so.had an average wage
My dh works full,time on a low wage
We get tax credits ( enhanced due DLA)
My sons DLA,he gets HRC,andHRM,
Carers allowance
We were alo.luck.to.move into.a housing association house so my rent is low and we live in the North west
We are no worse off really than when i.was working full.time
But as I said its our.individual circumstances.

You don't mention DLA - do you claim it already? If not, you really must. It will open the door to other benefits like Carers Allowance and may even make you eligible for UC if you are living on one wage.

As others say, you need DLA before getting carers. If he’s awarded, it has to be middle or high rate to be classed as a carer. Low and middle rate adds the disabled element on to a uc claim, higher rate gets a higher pay. Then you can also add carers element (carers allowance is taken off £1 for £1 on uc but it does give you class 1 NI credits - you can claim both).

If your child classed as disabled you can apply for other bits as well. Your water bill could be capped or if it’s applicable you can get a higher amount towards housing (private rent).

Sorry yes, he gets middle rate DLA forgot to mention

Do the online benefits calculators include the additional elements if you get carers?

@kcpatsy

Use https://www.entitledto.co.uk/ , it’s will give you the actual amount if you choose to become a carer full time

@Gerrataere Yeah that's what I used. Looks like it is correct then that we will be worse off

Ah I’m sorry to hear that 😑. Is there anything that would make up the £300? Nursery fees? Save on travel/petrol? Could you apply for another job that is part time, or even your partner go p/T? UC wouldn’t sting you so much if it was a case of cutting down. It’s a big chunk to lose every month though, but I totally get your position. I have two sons with additional needs and a single parent now. Getting back to work seems like a pipe dream right now due to the level of care-giving needed.

I was a carer for 3 years while DS needed more attention, and went back to work in the last year. We claimed DLA, carers allowance and got an increase in tax credits (think uc dose to). We were still on less money then if I'd been working, but it was doable. We had no childcare costs which helped.

There were also a lot of small savings/offers that add up. Eg. In our area the LA fund so groups and holiday activities for disabled children and we were able to save a bit making use of free carer places when we went out. We also get free use of a local toll road and some car parks with his blue badge.