Carers allowance and doing a bit of work.

[Greaterwaterparsnip]

Hi - I claim carers allowance and I started some work this week. I will have gone over the £139 for one week limit.
I won't work every week. I thought that you are allowed to have it calculated across the month but when I rang them today to inform them of the change, all he could tell me was that I was to ring them and let them know when and what I've been paid. I really couldn't get him to tell me what to expect.
Will they automatically calculate it across the month? Will they stop the payments? Do I have to pay back the carers allowance for the month?
I know I won't work at all for 4 straight weeks from mid March. I'm not sure what to do.

[Greaterwaterparsnip]

Bmp

[CheapThrillsMeanNothing]

Are you paid weekly or monthly?
Could you spread the hours out more across the month?
Could you pay more into your pension to reduce your pay?

[Greaterwaterparsnip]

I will be paid weekly.

I can't seem to find out through googling or ringing helplines how they go about calculating what I've earned longer term.They would only tell me I must let them know if I go over.

I did go over this week but I know that over the month I will earn below the £139 per week overall.
I just can't find out whether this will naturally sort itself out or whether the benefit will stop.

I've had no pension information yet.
Thanks

[Greaterwaterparsnip]

I can aim to spread the work out but it's possible DD might need more care some weeks and so I don't work - then she's better and I can do more.
I'm not clear if the system is flexible enough for this though.

[bornak]

My experience is that it is not at all flexible. I was self employed though so maybe it's different if you do some work that they get reported about. I waited 18 months to be given a back payment then went round and round for another 18 months before finally realising the problem and giving up my self employed job simply so o could have a steady and ongoing CA payment.

[Greaterwaterparsnip]

Sorry to hear that.

[RollOnSpringDays]

If I remember rightly, when I claimed it, it was based on monthly salary.

[Greaterwaterparsnip]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I will have to wait until I get paid for this week and make my confessional phone call. Maybe the new person will be allowed to explain. Today he just kept repeating you need to ring up and tell them you've exceeded the limit when you get paid.

It's a shame as it will do us all good to try to get back to a more normal life but things are not yet regularly stable enough for me to do bits as and when. If it's going to be hugely complicated then I can do without the trouble.

[penelopelady]

You can expenses and average your pay.
It


www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

[Greaterwaterparsnip]

Thank you for that.😊

It's the use of 'may' or 'might' that is confusing me.

'If your earnings are sometimes more than £139 a week you might still be eligible for Carer’s Allowance. Your average earnings may be calculated to work out if you’re eligible. '

I was trying to get the man to tell me how that might be arranged and if it was possible for me but he wouldn't tell me.

I was hoping someone might have done it themselves. Not that I don't appreciate the help so far thanks.