Talk to me about claiming DLA and carer's allowance when you don't really need the money

[emkana]

I keep struggling with this - for myself, that is, not judging anybody else in any way at all.

If you're claiming DLA for your child and don't need it, then put it into a bank account for them for when they will need it. It is their money after all.

If you're claiming CA, then you will be claiming it to get your NI stamp. Again, put it into a bank acount for your child or ask the DWP to stop sending you it.

Sorry if my post is straight to the point, but I just can;t see why you would claim if you didn;t need it. The forms themselves are a nightmare to fill out.

CA it pays your stamp.

DLA put it towards something for ds. I am guessing he is still smaller than average by a lot. in a few years he may want grown-up clothes, and they may have to be specially made for him iyswim.

5inthebed - I claim because people around me (health professionals, friends) kept telling me that I really really should and that I have the right to claim this money and so there's no reason not to. And while we would get by without it it makes life more comfortable, and it enables me to still be at home, not go back to work yet.

As the otehrs say really; it's also sometimes a gateway to other things- eg carer's pass to cinema, disability facillities (rather than prices specifically) at theme parks.

If you don't even want to save the money donate it to a charity.

And yes, CA = stamp. So very important in a world where anything can happen.

Emkana, it is there to make it so.

You wouldn't get it if you were not entitled to it. And one of the reason for it is so that you can live comfortably and not hav to worry about finances when there are far more important things to worry about.

Sorry, I get why you've posted now, so sorry again for my blunt post previously.

You weren't that blunt. No need to apologise!

If getting CA helps yu to hold it together... tot up what care would cost the state for your ds.

I ahd soem stats from the early half of this decade putitng an asd child (sorry, haven;t got stats for other SN) at £2k per week includingc are plan.

Then deduct £56 a week from that, and if you wish to be scrupulous what you would pay in taxes if working.

If it's still not saving the state an awful lot, I woudl agree you don;t need it

Emkana as has already been said:

CA - it is not just £53.90 per week. It is the Class 3 'parent and carer' NI credit that protects your future pension rights. You might not think you need it now, but no-one knows the future, and what happens in the future financially will be dictated by having enough NI credits.

DLA - Well it doesn't really matter what your finances are, it is your DS's money You can use it to kit him out with adapted clothing, or to give him more access to clubs, etc., or save it to give him extra comforts as he gets older.

Tax credits will omly be affected by your finances anyway.

It 'flags' your DS for services, also.

I could claim carers but don't because it is taxable and would just be taken off the extra tax credits surely? I thought Child Benefit protected my stamp. I'm worried now!

P.S at 5inthebed's Halloween name.

CB does protect ctamp (but double check as procedures are changing) but there's no word on those who will lose it post- HR tax readjustment.

Child benefit protects your stamp until the child is 12 but the stamp for Carer's will apply at any age.

No chance of getting anywhere near HR tax for us atm but it is worth bearing in mind for the future in case CB disappears entirely! Thanks

claim it, it his money

It isn't taken off £ for £ though, MistsandMellow. It is taxable, so you will lose 20% if you are already above tax threshold, but then you will only lose 39% for Tax credits, (41% from April), so for the £53.90 of CA, you end up with £22 ish net gain.

Oh... we get full housing benefit and council tax because DH business isn't doing so well. He isn't earning enough to pay tax despite working all hours

Do you know if they adjust those so there's no net gain?

I didn't know about CB only protecting until 12 either.

Sorry for hijack emkana

MaM

I get CA, dh has a small business in start up satges; out income soudns similar.

I don;t lose anything like we gain from having CA; seriously, claim, Or even just put it through entitledto website to see how it spans out.

Thank you, I will

(MaM in costume btw)