There surely isn’t any truth in this - UC and carers allowance related

[Triflepup]

I currently receive CA for one dc and therefore have no work commitments on UC. Had a ‘friend’ round today who knows our situation but just kept going on how hard it’s been for her finding holiday childcare and how I should be worried as she’s heard that soon being in receipt of carers allowance wont mean no work commitments?? She actually said to me ‘well you have to admit you have all day everyday when he’s at school and every evening and weekend your dh is here!’

She has no idea but it’s got me worried surely that wouldn’t happen?

She sounds like a fucking bitch with her snidey remarks. No advice on UC sorry but I'd bin the "mate". You don't need her in your life x

I never understood this it’s not like it’s a huge amount for 35+ hours work so why can you only claim it once

You’re right. It’s just made me a bit sad as I find it hard to have friendships due to my circumstances but I can see she’s not a real friend

carers, people with disabilities and dependents are supposed to live on less money than a single elderly person.

Really? Can you quantify that please and demonstrate how the people you list are supposed to live on less than a total of £220 pw, with all income (including Child Benefit, UC, any allowances)

Overheads are a huge part of anyone’s household budget. A single pensioner has to pay the whole lot on one pension. Only concession being that they pay 75% of CT . Same as a single parent.

One true friend is worth a million fake friends x

OP: I am really sorry you met with such ignorance from your friend.

Would a calm factual explanation help? Or else laugh and say ‘are you asking me to take on your childcare?’

I think that removing CA from exemption to look for work would be a long way down a gvt policy, but rumours are flying about about all sorts of unfounded potential horror stories.

In difficult times people start resenting other people. This thread demonstrates this with the attack on pensioners, and your friend has fallen foul of the same nasty trap.

won't happen. Many people care 24/7. The government would have to provide solid social care and child care for those with disabilities so that carers can work. It's never going to happen. much cheaper to trap us in a slave wage of £81 per week (aka carers allowance). Your friend sounds like a right c*nt. I would unfriend.

I have the carers element on UC as I have two disabled children. I do also work and earn just above the minimum income level to be left alone. However I can't work full time and I work in the public sector in a hugely flexible but vulnerable job. I don't even know if I have a job past 31st March this year yet.

I would happily work 37.5 hours a week if UC pay adequate and full childcare for 1:1 care for children who need it. Both of my children require 1:1.

My sister, that’s who.

‘If you’re at home on carers’ allowance you shouldn’t have any quality time at all, it’s supposed to be because you’re being beaten up round the clock’

I seriously hope not

It wouldn't surprise me.

Labour for some reason have decided to proceed with the tories plan to target disabled people. Cutting carers allowance as part of that seems fairly on brand right now.

They're on about setting up a system to individually assess each person's needs and decide what they can and can't have and presumably proceed with stopping giving cash and instead get vouchers or what have you.

Considering such a system would cost an absolute fortune to run, far much more than they'd ever save by cutting what disabled people currently get, I can only assume it's being done to please the non disabled voters. And if cutting what disabled people get pleases the non disabled voters get then God help us.

When a government wants to make life even harder for those it's already hard on then thats a sign a country is in real trouble.

I know, I was saying it to make a point at how ridiculous it is that you can only claim for one carers allowance.

They are sadly doing the same thing as conservatives- there are many people who cant work because workplaces are not willing to do ANY adjustments and disabled people are expected to do the same thing everyone else. It''s bs saying millions of people can work but dont.
If thwy look at employers first and thing are put in place to take under consideration adjustments, then they can look at disabled people and their carers not working.
I am just about to work with my disabled son going to school, we pay through the nose for SN childcare and I had to go PT. If we ever lose childcare, I wont be able to work depsite being phisically able to, but the wrap around care for disabled kids is non existent and loads of parents are trapped in having to do pickups and drop offs without any possibility of pre or after school clubs, nanies, babysitters etc.

I was a carer for years and was told that I didn't have to look for work at all whilst on it, I don't think they'd change it as a lot of people have to be on call at all times.

My DH is a CAB benefits specialist. When I see him this evening, I'll run your query past him and ask if there's anything in the ether about CA and paid work/job-seeking. But even if there is, governments, especially in their first year and in the run-up to an election, test the water with all sorts of proposals. It doesn't mean they come to anything.

Your friend doesn't sound like a healthy person to have around when you're under so much pressure. It seems that she feels entitled to take her own problems out on you and she doesn't see an issue with demanding a slice of your time, irregardless of the fact that there are things you're dealing with which she isn't. I wouldn't expend time, energy and biscuits on someone who gave off a whiff of a grudge if I couldn't or wouldn't prioritise her childcare needs over medical appointments for myself or anyone in my household. A nice book or one of those TV shows about police officers collaring wrong 'uns would be better company than a lot of resentment and self-pity.

I used to receive CA for one of our children and I absolutely didn’t have all day to myself when they were at school. I spent my time on the endless medical, education etc paperwork. Yes, I did have “some” time to myself but after school until bedtime was absolutely full on regardless on whether dh was at home.

It sounds like your friend has little understanding of the extra needs of your child and even less sympathy!

You can receive carers allowance for looking after an adult person too.

You do not have to work

You can work a small amount of hours & still claim.

Carers allowance pays the National Insurance "stamps" towards your state pension & other benefits..
You can check this on your National Insurance record

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

You have to be caring for someone the amount of hours equivalent to a full time job so that’s classed as a work commitment, albeit a very underpaid one. Sounds like she’s probably misunderstood something she’s heard about other benefits and probably feeling stressed out and a bit snappy on top of that. Id try not to take it personally.

A person can claim carers allowance & not claim universal credit (housing & income rom other sources)

Perhaps your friend is talking about the universal credit part of your benefits ?
This may attract a need to work ?

I’m not sure it’s just if you’re getting CA and on UC there are no work commitments as it’s classed as you already have a job I think with the caring role

I "retired" early due to DH health and get CA but no other benefits due to other income. I can't see claiming UC is in any way relevant to how much care you are actually doing, it is to make up a shortfall in income, surely? If me/DH had to make a UC claim, it wouldn't change the fact that he is entirely bedbound with multiple health conditons and cannot be left for any period of time, day or night. So many other carers out there who similarly cannot work/earn a meaningful income, for so many reasons.

OP, your friend does not sound nice and even she's got childcare woes, it is not your fault or your problem.

I doubt very much that this will happen. I save the government loads by being paid 70 quid a week to care for my daughter who has Down syndrome.
Your friend sounds like a twat.