Carer's Allowance- how do I know when I want the claim to start from?

[redhappy]

I have forms to apply for carers allowance. It states that can be awarded up to 3months previously, and asks for a date you want it to start from. Ds was awarded dla over 3months ago. Will that need to be reassessed as part of this claim?

I hope not! I really need the carer's allowance as I'm a lone parent, and will move onto jobseekers allowance rather than income support soon if I don't get this sorted.

Just say that you want it to start from three months before the date of your claim, thats what I did and I got the backdated monies too.

They wont reassess and its quite straight forward.

Sorry, me and forms really don't get on...basically I fill it with today's date, and ask for it to start on the 15th August?

Sorry if I'm being silly I do get very flustered by forms and putting the right thing!

Another thought, how long will it take? Would be very handy for xmas!

Yes thats right :)

I dont think mine took too long - its not a long process but it depends how backlogged they are I suppose.

Thankyou! If I'd thought to ask on here sooner I could have done it ages ago! Better get it done now then

I think you can backdate it to the date you applied for DLA, as you can't get carers until the DLA has been awarded, so I think mine was backdated to the date I applied for DLA

Was that less than 3months? Should I Put the date dla was awarded even though it's more than 3months ago?

Mine was processed really quickly - filled it out on line on a Friday and the money was in my bank the next Thursday! The letter hadn't even arrived to tell me I was getting it. I put the date on the DLA letter but I applied as soon as my son was awarded it so was probably less than 3 months but can't remember now (3 years ago).

this is an awkward claim if you have been on income support, they reduce income support by the amount of carers you claim, but income support give you a disability top-up, so the top-up will be back dated to the date you got awarded dla.....so you will still get the same money by claiming both benefits, but you will get the top-up from income support to give you more money, iyswim, inform income support straight away if you have sent the claim form off.....it gets sorted quicker if you tell them straight away.

Thanks, yes I knew there was a bit of jiggling about. Apparently I will be £30 a week better off. It's really so that I'm allowed to be home for ds, so I don't have. to go out to work and therefore put him into him into innappropriate childcare.

Ok, so I'm going to put date dla awarded, should be backdated 3months from today, and inform dwa.