Advice needed on claiming Carers Allowance

[Pizzaonthebeach]

I am not sure where I can get information so hoping MN can help. My SIL lives with MIL and is claiming Carers Allowance. However the rest of the family think MIL really needs trained Carers to visit 2 or 3 times a day. SIL is very stressed at having to do all cooking, washing and domestics for MIL but won’t get Carers in for fear of losing the Carers Allowance and MIL disability allowance. MIL does have health conditions and mental health issues and we all try our best to help out each week fitting it around our full times jobs. So my question is would SIL have her benefit money taken away (she could get a p/t job which would then also help with her own sanity I guess)? Please be kind, we really want to do what is best and it is not just about benefits but the overall well-being of MIL and SIL

No as long as also provides care it won’t make any difference.

Maybe get advice from age uk? Or carers association/ carers uk? Sil is entitled to support as a carer, including a carers assessment.
Maybe look at a cleaner to cover some of the load?

Fir CA you have to be providing 35 hours of care a week. Shes need a SS assessment to see if they can get more support.

Mil needs to claim attendance allowance if she doesn’t already do so. Carers allowance an still be claimed even if carers are coming in as well as SIL doing care for mil.
Some councils also offer small grants to those claiming carers allowance for the carer to have a holiday etc. (£200 on average).
Also check to see if mil is entitled to respite care. Carers assessment should be applied for as other things sometimes get awarded - but dependant on the individual council area.

Wow that’s great, really helpful information, certainly some things we have not even thought of. SIL could really do with a break

Mil needs to claim attendance allowance if she doesn’t already do so do not do this as she is on dla.

There are a lot of ‘ifs and buts’ regarding claiming both. It is possible but depends on varying scenarios. Check with citizens advice and/or Age uk for the up to date rules.

@Bargebill19 No it’s not possible to claim dla and aa in any circumstance.

From the citizens advice. This infers that you can depending on which elements you claim under dla. It is worth asking citizens advice. We don’t know all the OP mil circumstances.

If you don’t ask you definitely won’t get. But sometimes there are gains to be had by asking - even if the answer is “no to that claim but you can claim ‘this,’”.

@Bargebill19 it’s really does not . It is saying that if you apply for aa and you are already on dla hopefully you will “ get lucky” and they will look at your dla award again rather than cancelling it for aa.
@Pizzaonthebeach to clarify you cannot claim aa and dla.

Carers coming in won't affect the carers allowance.

Also no one comes to check she is doing 35 hours care. Care can be anything from paperwork to cooking to personal care.

Don't worry!

Thank you everyone. It has settled my mind. Think I am going to check with CAB