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Original poster

Carers and housing benefit

37 replies

inthedarkx · 28/04/2022 20:44

So I am currently a lone parent on income support and tax credits. ( ex husband left me for another woman) I get housing benefit of 0.50p so I have to pay all my rent using my tax credits. I'm affected by the benefit cap due to claiming tax Credits for 5 children ( all born before 2017. ) So that's why they said I can't have any help with rent as that would then exceed the benefit cap.

I care for my mum and only last week I was made aware that I can claim carers for her to cover my costs of travelling to and from her etc. I made the claim 3 days ago; but now I've been told it gets taken from my income support so it's pointless claiming as I won't receive any extra money and that it's a taxable income so will this then reduce my tax credits also and completely cancel my housing benefit claim it the 50p ( I wanted to keep my claim open for as long as I can in case circumstances change and I actually become entitled to more like when my oldest child ( she's 16 next month) leaves education ect

So is this true? Was there any point? I do care for the 35 hours and wa
just hoping it would cover some of my travel costs but seems like it won't !!

OP posts:
SecretVictoria · 28/04/2022 20:54

Can’t advise about the carers allowance, but I don’t think you’ll be entitled to more when your eldest leaves education. If they stay on to do A-levels/further ed I think you can still claim for them but if they work then you can’t and your amount would reduce.

Babyroobs · 28/04/2022 23:47

inthedarkx · 28/04/2022 20:44

So I am currently a lone parent on income support and tax credits. ( ex husband left me for another woman) I get housing benefit of 0.50p so I have to pay all my rent using my tax credits. I'm affected by the benefit cap due to claiming tax Credits for 5 children ( all born before 2017. ) So that's why they said I can't have any help with rent as that would then exceed the benefit cap.

I care for my mum and only last week I was made aware that I can claim carers for her to cover my costs of travelling to and from her etc. I made the claim 3 days ago; but now I've been told it gets taken from my income support so it's pointless claiming as I won't receive any extra money and that it's a taxable income so will this then reduce my tax credits also and completely cancel my housing benefit claim it the 50p ( I wanted to keep my claim open for as long as I can in case circumstances change and I actually become entitled to more like when my oldest child ( she's 16 next month) leaves education ect

So is this true? Was there any point? I do care for the 35 hours and wa
just hoping it would cover some of my travel costs but seems like it won't !!

I think yes the carers is taken off the income support but you also get a carers premium added on so you are better off. I would also recommend asking CAB to do you a better off benefit check to see if you would be better off on Universal credit as you would get a rent element on UC but would likely still be capped, unless being a carer excludes you from the cap, I'm not sure on this.
Another thing you need to be aware of is that claiming carers allowance may affect your mum's benefits if she lives alone and gets a severe disability premium on ESA or pension credit. If you claim carers , she would lose this, so do check on that.

Babyroobs · 28/04/2022 23:48

How old is your youngest child? I presume under 5 as you are still on Income support?

Babyroobs · 28/04/2022 23:51

I have just read that being a carer does lift the benefit cap on UC, but not sure if it does on the old system. Maybe seek advice from CAB.

AReallyUsefulEngine · 28/04/2022 23:51

It is still worth claiming carer’s allowance as it would then mean you are exempt from the benefit cap. However, I agree with Babyroobs, DM’s claim may decrease.

AnotherEmma · 29/04/2022 00:00

My advice is to contact Citizens Advice and ask them to do a "better off" calculation. It's likely you'll be better off claiming Carer's Allowance and Universal Credit.

As an aside, you can only claim Income Support after your youngest child turns 5 if you are also a carer. If all your children were born before 2017, your youngest must be at least 5 already? So you would have to claim Carer's Allowance, otherwise your Income Support would stop anyway.

Does your mother claim benefits? Does she live alone? Do you know if she gets the SDP?

Original poster
inthedarkx · 29/04/2022 11:34

Hello, thanks.

My youngest is 2 ( 3 in aug) but I don't get tax credits for her ( that's why I only mentioned the 5) the other 5 are all in school.

OP posts:
Original poster
inthedarkx · 29/04/2022 11:35

My mum checked her claim and they did she doesn't claim the severe disability premium so it won't affect her benefits. She gets pip and universal credit

OP posts:
ForTheLoveOfSleep · 29/04/2022 11:52

OP I would claim the carer's allowance. You get class 1 NI contributions from this as opposed to class 3 from Income Support. Which will benefit you better in the future.

AnotherEmma · 29/04/2022 17:57

@AReallyUsefulEngine is right. Claiming Carer's allowance means you are exempt from the benefit cap. In your case (with 5 children born before 2017) this means you will be significantly better off. You should get full HB and CTR (in addition to Carer's allowance, income support which will include Carer's premium, and CTC). So you need to update all your benefit claims to say you are now claiming Carer's allowance.

the only way you would still have to pay some rent is if you are in private rented housing and your rent is higher than the LHA. But I would guess you're in council or HA housing and don't have a spare bedroom!

Original poster
inthedarkx · 30/04/2022 18:34

Thanks everyone!

I applied 3 days ago, and my mum received a letter today explaining that I had claimed carers to claim for her ect just to notify her, but it also said that it could affect her council tax reduction? She gets council tax support and now in worried she will have to pay full council tax??

OP posts:
doveseternal · 30/04/2022 18:45

If you're caring for 35 hours a week I'm sure you're capable of holding down a job.

LilacPoppy · 30/04/2022 18:51

It doesn’t affect her council tax reduction as she wasn’t getting CTS based on the severe disability element.

Original poster
inthedarkx · 30/04/2022 19:09

@doveseternal but my mum needs help and support so she comes first in my eyes

OP posts:
Original poster
inthedarkx · 30/04/2022 19:09

LilacPoppy · 30/04/2022 18:51

It doesn’t affect her council tax reduction as she wasn’t getting CTS based on the severe disability element.

Thank you for that info xx

OP posts:
doveseternal · 30/04/2022 19:09

inthedarkx · 30/04/2022 19:09

@doveseternal but my mum needs help and support so she comes first in my eyes

If she's so bad she needs 35 hours of care leaving you 'unable' to work she needs to be in assisted living.

Maydaysoonenough · 30/04/2022 19:12

Your dd surely has to stay in ft education until 18? Your claim for her remains until 18. I have 5 dc that I claim for and get etc and ctc. And hb.

LilacPoppy · 30/04/2022 19:18

@doveseternal stop wittering nonsense you are adding nothing of any benefit to this thread.

doveseternal · 30/04/2022 19:19

LilacPoppy · 30/04/2022 19:18

@doveseternal stop wittering nonsense you are adding nothing of any benefit to this thread.

I'm entitled to comment my opinion on this thread. Perhaps I've got under your skin a little?

Babyroobs · 30/04/2022 19:20

Maydaysoonenough · 30/04/2022 19:12

Your dd surely has to stay in ft education until 18? Your claim for her remains until 18. I have 5 dc that I claim for and get etc and ctc. And hb.

Some young people leave education at 16 for example if they do an apprenticeship. Support for that child would then end at 16.

Babyroobs · 30/04/2022 19:22

doveseternal · 30/04/2022 19:09

If she's so bad she needs 35 hours of care leaving you 'unable' to work she needs to be in assisted living.

Show quote history

There are 168 hours in a week? Of course people who need 35 hours of care don't always need to be in assisted living. It is precisely because relatives/ friends step up and care for them that they are able to continue living in their usual homes.

Babyroobs · 30/04/2022 19:22

doveseternal · 30/04/2022 19:19

I'm entitled to comment my opinion on this thread. Perhaps I've got under your skin a little?

Show quote history

You have got under people's skin as you are insinuating that op should be working and caring full time?

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 30/04/2022 19:23

Well it doesn't affect benefits, I actually get a bit more because the child I claimed for lives with me.

They do take it off my income support. Because I claim carers they wont move me off income support and on to job seakers though, my youngest is 9

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 30/04/2022 19:24

*doesn't negatively affect my benefits that should be

ResentfulLemon · 30/04/2022 19:31

doveseternal · 30/04/2022 18:45

If you're caring for 35 hours a week I'm sure you're capable of holding down a job.

Retract your claws.

The OP costs less in benefits than it would cost for the taxpayer to pay for carers to the same value. Her working those 35 hours instead is false economy...plus 35 hours caring for someone is rarely comparable with 35 hours of working in terms of scheduling.

Take your benefit bashing back under your dank bridge.

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