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Original poster

How do you spend your carers allowance

17 replies

Chilly12x · 14/04/2019 10:52

Hi all,
I have two children both are in receipt of DLA and so we get extra tax credits payments as a result. I also now receive carers allowance, I just wondered what you all spend your carers allowance on? Can we spend it on treating ourselves to something nice or should it be spent on the children? I am slightly confused. With the DLA and tax credits we are able to buy all the extra stuff our kids need and they do not go without what they need. So carers allowance is technically not needed in the sense that if it were taken off us we would not miss it. I know that sounds slightly as though I am boasting or whatever, I do not mean it to sound that way at all I just can’t think of a better way to phrase it right now 🙈

OP posts:
englishdictionary · 14/04/2019 10:58

I have never separated money like that. It's all income and goes into the same bank account. X amount gets transferred for bills and what's left it left.

MyDcAreMarvel · 14/04/2019 11:00

It’s in lieu of a wage, so for day to day expenses that you would normally spend your wage on.

jemihap · 14/04/2019 11:36

Don't worry you don't come across as boasting, the benefits system is so ludicrously generous now it's quite normal that most recipients literally have more money than they know what to with.

BirthdayKake · 14/04/2019 11:39

I did use it for a childminder for my youngest so I could have a break, but she's going onto funded hours soon so I'm going to save up for a new bathroom instead, as ours is horrible

englishdictionary · 14/04/2019 11:41

Don't worry you don't come across as boasting, the benefits system is so ludicrously generous now it's quite normal that most recipients literally have more money than they know what to with.

Shock

What the actual fuck Hmm

PotholePalace · 14/04/2019 11:48

I pay some of mine into a pension scheme. If I weren't a carer to my child I would be earning and paying into a pension through wages.

WatchingFromTheWings · 14/04/2019 11:49

Don't worry you don't come across as boasting, the benefits system is so ludicrously generous now it's quite normal that most recipients literally have more money than they know what to with

What a load of rubbish!! I spent 5 years on benefits....we lived on a shoe string with nothing left over at the end of the week. And I certainly didn't spend on luxuries!

MintyCedric · 14/04/2019 11:59

most recipients literally have more money than they know what to with

Can only assume you don't actually have a clue how the benefits system works Angry.

I'm a single mum (divorced) with two 80+ year old parents with a raft of medium level health issues, mum having had a heart attack in the last 18 months and dad who broke his back in 4 places earlier this year.

Based on the benefits available I can't even afford to reduce my hours to part-time in order to help them out let alone not work.

OP as someone else said...pension, savings for the kids future, or depending on how the kids would cope, a holiday or short respite break for you and your partner.

stucknoue · 14/04/2019 12:02

I put mine into a pension if anything was left after bills, which wasn't a lot. Benefits are not generous (and we didn't get tax credits etc because dh was working) disability's are lifelong and despite her being an adult I'm still her unpaid carer

Knittedfairies · 14/04/2019 12:07

Don't worry you don't come across as boasting, the benefits system is so ludicrously generous now it's quite normal that most recipients literally have more money than they know what to with.

I'm hoping this is sarcasm...

Original poster
Chilly12x · 14/04/2019 12:20

I had never thought of the idea of paying towards my pension, this is a great idea. Thank you

OP posts:
Youngandfree · 14/04/2019 12:25

If you don’t need it now why don’t you save it for their future. Care needs may change. Or something may happen to you or DP

wintersweet1977 · 14/04/2019 13:20

You can spend carers allowance on whatever you like. It's not in lieu of wages as it's woefully under the national minimum wage it's a nod from the Government to acknowledge the extra care you need to give. Just be sure to inform tax credits that you now get carers allowance as this is a taxable income and may affect the amount you get in tax credits. As for DLA this can be spent on whatever benefits the child. Good Luck

MyDcAreMarvel · 14/04/2019 13:46

It's not in lieu of wages
Yes it’s is, that’s why you can’t get it if you earn over a certain amount, are a full time student or receive state pension.

englishdictionary · 14/04/2019 13:49

Clearly winter meant it isn't in lieu of wages because it goes no way to replacing them.

That was evident by the rest of the sentence that you chose not to quote.

MyDcAreMarvel · 14/04/2019 14:56

Its read like it couldn’t possible be in lieu of wages because ...... .
When despite the fact it’s pitifully low, it’s exactly that.

rainbowbash · 16/04/2019 20:00

you can spend it as you like! Totally up to you. Well done on having treat money left. I hugely struggled on carers and couldn't often even afford to heat or cover other basics.

Agree, that putting money into a pension is a good idea.

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