Carers allowance and volunteering.

[MarioandLuigi]

DS2 gets DLA @ MRC so I get Carers Allowance.

Do I need to inform them that I am starting a voluntary position for three hours a week at an ASD parents drop-in?

Also, do I need to inform them about DS starting pt school in September?

Would say that the volunteering is well below the acceptable no of hours allowed for study or work, which I think is around 16hrs per week. (Not sure exactly but do know it is well above the 3 hours).

The fact that he is starting school shouldn't affect things either, as you will still be caring for more than 30hrs per week, assuming 24hrs per day. But just a call to let them know a change in his circumstances would be good.

Hope this helps & maybe somebody will come along with the exact figures soon.

I don't think I ever bothered telling them that DS (who is now 12) had started school as I still care for him for more than the 35 hours to get CA

Not sure about the volunteering, the criteria for CA is the number of hours you are caring for that person so if you are over that amount then I can't see a problem but it would propbabaly be worth a phone call to them about it in case someone reports you for working.

For study, Tess, it has to be less than 21 hours a week of supervised study - see the Directgov site