'Carers to keep benefit and be able to work'

[misdee]

here but they are only talking about those caring for elderly relatives.

or wil lthey be looking at all carers?

Looks like this is about the elderly. Don't really understand it though. Surely the idea of benefits is because you can't work because you need to be in the home providing care? If you are able to go out to work, then presumably you aren't needed at home to do the caring? In which case why do you need benefits? How odd. Sounds like another bit of political posturing.

and if you are out a work who would be looking after the elderly relative (or whoever it is you are caring for)?

Its so that they can pay a carer £50 a week to keep their relatives at home.
the elderly person wouldn't have the full time care they need but its cheaper than the £hundreds per week it costs to offer nursing places.

Sounds like CA though (of course everyone who gets CA is caring for the elderly )

I lost my CA because I became a full time student. Never mind that I'm doing exactly the same amount of caring as before. I get home to meet the school bus and am currently routinely up at 4am.

Grrrr. Ds1 needed 2 people to take him out for a walk today (and we couldn't manage him- he's having a very bad day). If the govt was paying for his care externally it would be 100's per day.

Many families with a disabled child are living in poverty- far higher % than those without a disabled child and the tight wads make it difficult to claim CA.

Grr grrr grrrr.

Yes it does sound like CA. Absolutely agree that working carers (and students) should be able to get it.

To get CA you are supposed to be caring for at least 35 hours per week - so you could work still time and still be caring for someone before and after work, and/or at weekends.

I didn't like the assumption that caring is purely the responsibility of 'daughters'.

I meant work full time, of course.

CA is awarded if you are caring for 35hours+ a week.

i could work part-time (as i am looking at doing) but still be at home in the mornings and evenings doing the general care duties for dh. all he would have to do is get his lunch sorted (i am literally looking at school hours and term-time only).

i am still on call really 24hours a day, mainly as dh is still confused and cant do everything himself yet.

but i would like to be able to work again, but not worry too much about losing too much money (worked out to cover rent/council tax and CA i need to be earing almost £250 a week) to make it worthwhile.

yes i know i sound like i am a benefits scounger, but right now i am trying to weigh up the cost of everything, including my own mental health which would benefit from going back to work.

No way are you a benefits scrounger, misdee!

misdee - your situation sums up why the system is crap! You are not a scrounger, you want to work, but you're in a situation where you won't be significantly better off by working! Ludicrous! Anyone who works, even in the most stress-free, lowly job, should earn significantly more than they would get for living on benefits.

there are those people who are caring for elderly relatives, who spend time 'socially each week with other elderly people. during those hours the carer could be working.

unfortuntly, the whole week isnt just 35hours in total.

a carer could be doing the main caring in the mornings and evenings before a 'home help' come in to give them a break/go to work themselves, and still be over the 35hours needed.

but £50 a week is really pitiful for 35hours+ a week.

i do finally get time to myself. right now peter has taken it upon hismelf to go shopping. i am edge, waiting to see if he checks the list for all the stuff for the curry tonight. if not, then i will have to go back out later.

this morning he forgot everything he had done the night before, and went to do it all over again. i had to remind him and show him he had already done it. it was like an lightbulb moment.

alfiesbabe, i know.

i think if i work over 16hours (job i'm looki8ng at is 25hours a week, term time only, at a farm) then i think i should get WFTC?

see, i know nothing about this.

i'm not sure if i can get help with nursery fees though. not sure peter can look at dd3 completly on his own 5days a week. she starts nursery in sept on half days.

Misdee actually the 35+ hour thing doesn't work.

I'm in Uni Monday 9 - 1, and wednesday 12 - 4. that's it. but because the courtse is technically full time I am deemed to be not eligible for CA.

Any essays etc are completed by working through the night or skiving lectures; I wake with the boys, doe verything for them, take those who go to school and the one who doesn't so many hours (part time) back home with me.

yet apparently I am not a FT carer .

Eitehr they should call the NSPCC on me as they are being left alone, or pay me CA- coz there ain't nobody else here doing it for me!

thats terrible peachy.

is that because you are a student then?

or do they think carers only work 9-5?

It's because the course is registered as FT as they include home study in that- home study done when kids asleep. Same problem yurt has.

yeah snap peachy. I come home at 3.30 to meet ds1's bus. Then work after he's gone to bed in the evening - then get up at 4am etc. Of course have to be responsible all weekend etc. In fact do exactly the same amount of caring as I did when I received CA.

blimey. never knew that.

ah well, good job i am looking at working anyway.

what about OU courses, do they take away right to CA as well?