Carers allowance - earnings allowed?

[multiar]

I currently get carers allowance for my son but want to go back into work. I believe I'm allowed to earn £128 a week before the cares allowance stops?

I'd be earning £133.65 possibly £166.38 some weeks. It feels so close to limit I'm wondering if it's worth doing.

Any ways around this? I'm sure of heard of people making extra pension contributions etc but really haven't a clue which is why I'm asking here.

I would be earning £7.65 to much or £32.38 a week depending on the hours I work.

yes you would be earning too much so you cannot claim but I think if you are paying out any costs like childcare costs those can be taken off .

You can up your pension yes - speak to your employer if you have a workplace one.

I earn too much some months. It's a real pain. They were super strict about it when I rang them and wouldn't average over a term (tutoring.)

You can deduct pension payments and up to half your childcare costs for the child you care for.

If earnings are variable and sometimes you are within the limits and sometimes not you can ask carers allowance to look at a block of eight weeks, then they will pay you for the weeks you qualify. I think they send you a form to complete to fill details in. But if you consistently earn too much then there's no point applying, as the threshold is there for a reason. If you claim Universal credit then you can still get the carers element of Universal credit no matter how much you earn, so that is worth considering.

They wouldn't consider 8 weeks for me 🙄. Lost a month and the second time I rang (when it was reinstated) and asked again, I was given a "just make sure it doesn't go over the limit and you'll be fine" rap on the knuckles.

I don't control my sessions to that extent so can't. Its a real pain.

Ive read about pension contributions but as I only earn a few hundred a month and it's variable I couldn't reliably add to the pension the month it goes over as if I say put £200 a month into a pension some months I wouldn't have that.

I can see I will have this problem in June and Julys pay. Then earn little in August 😪

Does anyone know how much National insurance I will pay on £133.65 a week?

Look at increasing your pension contributions OP, that's what I do to keep my earnings within the limit

Do you have child care costs? They deduct the whole amount and for carers allowance it does not have to be a registered childminder it can be a friend.

National insurance www.gov.uk/national-insurance/how-much-you-pay

Theres no way you can do reduced hours?
Is their anyway you can discuss this with your potential employer- they may be sympathetic.