Carers allowance

[Carersadvice]

Could anyone advise as I’m a bit confused

was previously self employed and last had an invoice paid and de registered as self employed on the same day.

Put in a claim for carers allowance to start a few days later. They want a lot more info but not the tax return. They’ve asked for income etc for the whole previous financial year ?? I’m not claiming for that period of time so I don’t understand. Also tax codes ? I can’t seem to find one anywhere where would I get that information ?

I’ve had no income from a few days before I asked for the claim to start so thought it would be straightforward but am just confused

So you’re not working anymore at all now? They obviously can’t just go on a few days previous work history ….

No gave up about a week and a half before the last invoice got paid and when it was (on a Fri) the carers claim was to start on the Monday . I know that you have to earn under a certain amount but earnings are zero

What are your plans for an income now?

UC and CA

can’t send a tax return (they don’t accept it) but they want income from self employment info for outside of the time I’m claiming from so I was confused .
Claiming from may but they want April 21-mar 22 accounts (which is fine but I didn’t understand why). The period may - current that I’m claiming for in that time my income has been zero as no longer trading

Have you started your UC claim? My understanding is that UC will deduct the amount of CA you receive so you’ll end up with the same overall money whether you claim only UC or UC and CA. You’re best off doing a benefits calculation on entitledto or similar.

Yes but I want to get carers as that is paid weekly so will help plus it will mean much NI is paid too

have done a benefits calculator and will be better off but just confused how to sort out CA

My carers is paid monthly - I wasn’t aware you could choose weekly tbh. Your NI ‘stamps’ will be counted with UC too. You’re probably best off ringing them tomorrow if you can.

Yes you can choose weekly, fortnightly i think or monthly

I called initially when doing the original form and they couldn’t help !!! Said to just fill in as much as possible and they’d be in touch but that they don’t accept a tax return

I wrote and explained on the form how
-I was self employed but had ceased trading and de registered with hmrc.
-the date last received payment from last invoice
-sent the last 3 months invoices
-explained income is zero from claim date

I guess just fill in as much as possible then sit back and wait, I think that’s probably all you can do tbh .. but that’s not much help … or ring again tomorrow and hope to get someone who’s a bit more helpful.

Yes I’ll do that. Cannot find a tax code though I don’t think you have one if self employed but in the form it asks about tax codes 🤷‍♀️

I thought it would be relatively simple as you have to earn under £138 per week to qualify and I’m earning 0 per week for the period I want to claim for

I think you’re right about no tax code for self employed. I think it’s too simplistic to say you’re earning £0 though … they’ll count your UC as earnings ..

Ill definitely have to call again as the form asks about tax codes then again about what letter the tax code starts with - and I don’t have a tax code !!

What a weird question to ask someone who is claiming CA

I've helped a lot of people claim carers allowance and never known them ask for more than a few months payslips.

With the original application I had sent invoices and the details from the day i ceased trading etc but the form they’ve sent seems very much like its for someone who is still working as self employed so I’ve had to keep reiterating ceased trading and zero income from an exact date.

Its all quite confusing

Not weird at all… OP made it sound like she suddenly gave up self employment to claim CA bit had to wait until an invoice had been paid. She may have assumed she could claim as she’s not working, get carers, then start a different job in a few weeks once carers is through. It’s not that straight forward at all. CA will obviously want to know existing/future income so they can work out entitlement. Also, OP may not have known other financial options open to her.

It was judgy as fuck and you know it.

… they’ll count your UC as earnings ..

UC is not counted as earning for CA.

Does CA work in a similar way to UC for self employment? If so, asking for income prior to the CA claim may be related to surplus income, so they check you haven’t been paid a large lump sum for future.

I know more than you that’s for sure, as there’s no judgement on my part at all. What advice have you actually given here? Or do you just come along to threads to stir trouble??

If claiming UC, carers is deducted in full from your UC, so your end money is the same. That’s why I said to do a benefits calculation, and also to ring carers for advice, as her claim isn’t straightforward.

I know more than you that’s for sure, as there’s no judgement on my part at all. What advice have you actually given here? Or do you just come along to threads to stir trouble??

Yes. That will be it.

It could be that I guess I did send invoices though but maybe they want the whole years income prior to the claim to check that ?

But UC is not counted as income for carer’s allowance, which is what you said in reply to the OP saying her earnings were 0 for the period she was claiming. The fact UC deduct CA £ for £ once you are actually in receipt of it is irrelevant for claiming CA in the first place.

Claiming UC does not mean the CA claim isn’t straightforward. And even though it would be deducted £ for £ it is still worth claiming, not least because CA gives a better class of NI credits than you get with UC.