Carers allowance wait times

[Fluckinghell]

Is anyone else waiting on a decision for carers allowance? How long have you been waiting?

Does anyone know the wait times atm?

Im only on week 2 so I'm assuming I have a long way to go?

Yes definitely, I e mailed mine yesterday. Haven’t heard anything yet. Also I called carers allowance (3rd time!) and they have now escalated it (apparently) and sent an e mail to line manager as I’ve been waiting more than 9 weeks. We shall see….

Good luck! I emailed my MP yesterday and got a response today, the email said they have let Carers Allowance know my complaint and they will call me once they hear from them🤞

Thanks. Fingers crossed for you. Keep us informed!

Defo will! x

okay, thanks people, I will email my mp too.
I called CA today too and they said wait times are more like nine weeks but can be longer 😭 I am due to renew my 30 hours childcare soon and won’t get my son’s place if this doesn’t get accepted as my income has now become so low due to the inability to work full time.

Emailing your local MP won't do anything I'm afraid, i work for the civil service. Your application is in a queue, please remember its humans processing them not machines

I can keep you posted if you like, I was actually advised by Carers Uk to complain to my MP. To be honest I have never had go down that route until now. I get DLA for my daughter and it was a smooth and fairly quick process, even Universal Credit however, Carers Allowance is the actually the longest I’ve had to wait for a response, fingers crossed things get processed quickly but will also take in board what you have said in regards to MP not doing anything!

That’s possibly part of the problem, humans processing and not done by a computer as there appears to be little logic behind the timeframe for people, some waiting months, others waiting just a few days 😳.

@Fluckinghell @Bex268
hi. I was put a claim in May/june. Didn’t get a response until 18 weeks which was only a couple of weeks ago. I contacted my local mp. Due to the delay as they do state 9 weeks.. they processed my claim the week after they was contacted and I got a response via my mp from careers to say it was been looked into. Going to your local mp does help!! I also got awarded compensation aswell for the delay given the wait times

Hi, I got an update from Carers Alllowance! I called them today and the lady I spoke to took 2 mins after I confirmed all security questions, a decision has been made but she can’t see anything on the screen lol, a letter was sent yesterday so let’s see the decision on paper coz she couldn’t tell me anything else over the phone.

18 weeks is a shocking. Glad they’ve finally sorted it! Yes my mp has written to them too so let’s hope that helps! My claim is dated 31st July. So not quite as long as yours. At the moment!

Oh at least that’s something. Stupid they can’t tell you over the phone. Fingers crossed for you

Thank you!

Hi just a quick update…..on Monday I received a backdated payment into my bank account from carers allowance. No letter yet but it’s obviously been approved, finally. Hope you’ve had some good news too! x

Awww I’m so happy for you! Thank you for the update! Since my complaint to the MP I’ve heard from Carers Allowance about an overpayment lol, so typical when it comes to them overpaying then an immediate letter but it’s been 15 weeks for requested backdated payment and all I get is it’s with a decision maker and a letter is on its way!

It’s such a ridiculous system! Sooo my latest is….Although I’ve received a back payment into my account I’ve now received their letter saying Im now not eligible as my wages dated 30th September were more than the amount allowed (that was because I received some back pay for a small rise dated back to April). They have now closed my case and I need to reapply to reinstate it! The back pay was only a once off and now my wages are well within the amount allowed. So maybe another 12 weeks wait!! Gawd sake. Good luck with sorting yours!

oh my god that sucks! Like they make a backdated payment and now stop your payments due to an increase of earnings for a certain period..? I’m sorry to hear that.Honestly I just wish I didn’t apply for Carers Allowance and just stayed claiming DLA for my child😩. I did get a call from the Department of work and pension today following the Mp complaint… she said I understand it’s quite frustrating having different people say different thing and still no decision and the fact the request for a backdated payment is taking so long,she’s my caseworker and is in charge and will be keeping me updated. Let’s see! If you need to reapply for CA then reinstate if you have to. X looks like I won’t get anything till after Christmas jeeeez!

I have everything crossed for you. Such a ridiculous system….

@nadi123 you should be able to get DLA and CA, not just one.

@Savblanc1 Omg that’s absolutely terrible! How can this be justified?! Bloody ridiculous.

I already get DLA but the wait for Carers Allowance is an absolute pain in the butt!

You would think that if I went over for just one month they would just suspend it. Not close the case completely so I have to start all over again! Absolutely an idiotic system

I am waiting since 1st of July this year? The length of wait time is absolutely ridiculous !! Called once a month since and been told every time that it’s been looked at! Im about to give up at this point!

That’s shocking. Have you been in touch with your mp?

I have been in touch with my MP hoping things would speed up! They contacted Dwp and told me once they hear from them they will be in touch! I got a call from a case worker from Dwp and she was aware about the complaint about Carers Allowance that I made to MP and also said the same thing …. Still waiting!