I have a few questions about carers allowance.

[Barkatthemoon777]

Hello.

So I'll keep it short but I'm a bit confused about carers allowance and information online is at a bare minimum.

Firstly, what are the average wait times currently? Some places are saying 3 weeks, others 6, some as long as 12+ and it's just confusing me. I've even said some say less than two weeks.

Secondly will the wait time be factored in to the back pay on top of the tree months backpay already received. If so surely that's going to be a huge payment amount? Is this in one payment or split alongside you weekly payments over time?

Lastly should my carer be expecting a phonecall for details? And what evidence should they be expecting to be asked for (they're young so no previous jobs, benefits and/or employment).

I only want some clarification so my own carer can be fully informed about what to expect.

Thankyou to anyone that can help.

Mine was turned around in 3 or 4 days (last week) but I don't know about back payment as I was only eligible from 1st August.

And no phone call, just a letter to say it had been approved

Is the person you refer to as your carer the claimant for carer's allowance?

Is this 3 to 4 days from applying to it being in your bank or to you recieving the confirmation text?

Either way that's massively impressive.

Yes. Apologies if that was not at all clear.

Your Carer is the claimant; he/she will get an award letter telling them when the award starts etc.

Have you only recently been awarded the qualifying benefit (PIP/AA)?

If so, and they were caring for you at the time you claimed their CA award can be backdated match your PIP/AA claim.

Based on above, a CA claim processed where PIP/AA are already in payment can be pretty quick. If it's on hold for several months while a PIP/AA claim goes through that's a different ball game.

I’m also confused about this I sent my form of 2 weeks tomorrow and my payslips last week they have got all information now I phoned them and they said they have all they need how long usually does it take

I have had PIP since last September, awarded in January. My carer began caring for me in March. As a result I assume my claim can be expected to be faster?

Do you get ESA too? The servre disability element? If you do your carer cannot claim unless you give up this element?
If not you're carer will get it back dated from when she put down she started caring for you.. she cannot earn over a certain amount and claim or be on zny other benefits.

No I get the enhanced disability element of UC, and I also asked in my journal about this today and whether it would affect me as I knew this about ESA.

I have been informed that this is removed in regards to UC, and is only part of legacy benefits now. Which was welcome to hear.

The only exception apparently would be if we lived together, however we do not, so that is fine.

I sent my form off on the 3/8, I received my first payment (inc back pay) yesterday, the award letter arrived today (18/3).

The person I’m caring for wasn’t contacted but she is only 3 years old.

I’ve found that if the person claiming carers allowance is not working, not a student and not claiming other benefits then it gets processed quicker as there’s less checking to be done.

as long as the conditions are met then there’s no phone calls just a letter to say it’s been awarded. Back pay is usually in one lump sum.

I have a PAYE role (normal job) and am also registered self employed. I was surprised by how quick my application was process but I was upfront about the weeks I’d earnt over the threshold and I sent in evidence of my income since the start date of my claim

Mine took 10 weeks, but that was a couple of years ago. When it came it was backed to when I first applied DS's DLA, about 3 months before I applied for CA. I got a one off payment of about £1400. They did ring me to check some details, but that was related to income, to check I met the financial criteria. If your carer doesn't work, that might not happen, or if it does will be a very simple phone call.

I can't remember exactly - I applied early August, had an email to say it was being processed then the letter to say it was approved. The first payment went into my account on 10 August.
I'm not working & don't claim any other benefits.