What is the point in claiming Carer's Allowance

[GiddyMintOtter]

Evening,
I am full time carer to my husband who has MND. ( I posted last year after diagnosis but can't remember old log in details)
One thing that boils my piss is carers allowance!
What is the point in claiming it if it is deducted from Universal Credit??
I think sometimes of the hours I provide care, willingly, for my husband and wonder how much I am saving my local council? Some days I can have days were i am on the go from 6am to 1am.

How is it fair to class the £400 as unearned income and to deduct it? It works out to less than £1 an hour!!! They say its based on 35hrs a week, who in the right mind would work for that!!
4 weeks x 35hrs= 140 hours
400/140= £2.85p an hour.
But as a carer I know I provide care for so many more hours. I am providing care all through the night, when my husband needs me.
Being a carer is not just 35hours a week!! How can they justify deducting it from UC! What woukd happen if all the familial carers just stopped and asked their local councils to provide the hours of care we do?

Sorry , but just really annoyed
Giddy

If you’re a carer you would be exempt from having to look for work? Also there may be a carer premium added to your needs assessment (but I’m a couple of years out of the welfare rights system so this might be wrong)

You’re also getting NI credits towards your state pension - not much comfort though

It stops them from making you get a job

In addition to previous points - it can help with budgeting as it is paid weekly. UC is monthly. As someone else said ensure you have the carer element on your UC. Although you don’t ‘need’ to claim CA to get the care element added (just be providing the care to someone on a qualifying benefit). The care element will also protect you from conditionality (work searching).

It is daft, I know I shouldn't complain but they give with one hand and take with the other.
I am exempt from looking for work , though they made my husband complete a form explaining why he couldn't look for work ....with MND!!! It was upsetting for us both to have to document he deteriorating condition
The mind boggles

It pays class 1 NI credits.
It is paid weekly which makes budgeting easier.

Do you claim carers element on UC?

I do agree that it is a pittance.

I personally think there's very little point claiming Carers Allowance if you're also on Universal Credit.
As PP have said you don't need the Carers Allowance to qualify for the Carers Element of UC. And it's deducted in full.
I also find it ridiculous that Carers Allowance limits you to earning £186 per week. This is the opposite to Universal Credit which is set up to encourage work and tapers off gently. To me it seems like the height of meanness to pay such a pathetic pittance and also prevent you from earning anything for yourself.
As PP have said: the only advantages are to you NI contributions or if you prefer to be paid weekly.

I agree with what you’ve said, especially that’s it’s a pittance, but not everyone who claims CA is on UC so for some people it is worth claiming it.

What annnoys me is you can’t claim it for two different people, even though when caring for both parents can be well over 70 hours a week.

I agree I'm on uc and ca and caring for two people. I'm exhausted and broke beyond measure. I've sold everything that isn't nailed down and I think I'll need to look for work, but when would i work, or sleep? Pissed off to be so poor. I worked out that my budget for food, petrol, clothes, haircut (ha!) everything is £87pw.

I was just about to apply for it then realised this earlier and cancelled my entire application. I am also disabled with seizures and on LCW and I’d have to forgoe some of it. I look after my boyfriend around half the week.

both of us are on UC at the moment due to our conditions It’s so hard I do some charity work but he’s on LCWRA as he’s so bad