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Original poster

Maternity allowance cancelling out carers allowance?

13 replies

fullofquestion · 01/02/2019 21:06

I have two children with additional needs and work part time to be around as and when needed. My partner works full time. I get carers allowance, I have just started my maternity leave and will be getting maternity allowance as I don't earn enough to qualify for smp however apparently now my carers allowance will be stopped? Is this correct? I am worried as that means loosing £64 a week which is a lot of money to us, I also get an extra £35 a week allowance on housing benefit because of being a carer which I assume will also be taken off so I will be in fact not only my whole wage down but also an extra £20 a week as the maternity is only £10 more than the carers I currently receive? However if I was to earn £25 a week more I would have qualified for smp and also kept the carers too??

OP posts:

3boysandabump · 01/02/2019 21:08

If you can only have one could you not keep the careers allowance so you aren't loosing anything?

MyDcAreMarvel · 01/02/2019 21:10

It’s because both are in lieu of paid income or just on a low income from the government. You will get the carer premium in hb as you have an underlying entitlement to carers

Original poster

fullofquestion · 01/02/2019 21:23

It is just a shock as I wasn't expecting to loose the carers and it's not advertised as such as I researched maternity allowance as in previous pregnancies always qualified for smp and so it was new to me. If I had of know in advance I could have saved some money! Baby is due at the end of the month and the money I will have lost (in carers and also the gap between my pay and maternity allowance starting) was basically to pay for the buggy which is the only thing we have left to get! I've already paid a deposit and had a final payment due next week and now I am panicking as I don't want to pay the last instalment and leave myself short.

OP posts:

TheBigBangRocks · 02/02/2019 11:40

Do you not have a buggy from the others to use?

Original poster

fullofquestion · 02/02/2019 12:35

No we have a much bigger gap (my youngest is 8) so got rid of all the baby items long ago! Like I said we have everything now apart from the buggy! I brought the car seat separately so have that and a baby carrier also so could prob get by for a month until we can save the rest just very frustrating!

OP posts:

Babyroobs · 02/02/2019 19:42

I presume if the MA works out to more than £120 a week you would
lose your carers allowance.

tiredgranny · 02/02/2019 20:31

Would you lose all your carers .

Original poster

fullofquestion · 02/02/2019 21:03

No the MA is only £74 a week so not much more than the carers, this is what I don't understand, But if I got under the earnings limit of £120 or whatever it is in smp I would still be entitled to both?!?

OP posts:

Original poster

fullofquestion · 02/02/2019 21:04

And yes have lost it all, as of this week and the maternity doesn't even start until the week after next and has already been reduced by £30 to cater for carers I
Have already been paid!

OP posts:

Knittedfairies · 02/02/2019 21:59

As an aside, people who have been carers for years lose Carers Allowance when they get their state pension.

nettie434 · 05/02/2019 11:55

I would phone or email the Carers UK advice line www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/talk-to-us as they may be able to give you some advice. I thought Carers Allowance was not meant to be included in the benefit cap but Carers UK will be able to advise properly. Good luck!

Cnic29x · 02/04/2022 06:09

Hi there, can anyone help? I have recently been on maternity leave claiming maternity allowance… I was also on carers allowance as I care for my serverly disabled child as well as work part time… now, I have come off maternity allowance and returned to work, yet my carers has still not been reinstated , has anyone been in a similar situation I have informed them online that I am no longer receiving maternity allowance this was 6 weeks ago, and still not heard or received anything. Any advice would be appreciated x

Babyroobs · 02/04/2022 13:01

@Cnic29x

Best to call them although I think they may only work reduced hours at the moment.

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