Carers allowance and new style ESA?

[Rudeypoohs]

Hi, is anyone able to advise on whether I can claim carers allowance and New Style contribution based ESA benefit at the same time?
Ive never claimed anything before so unsure how it all works. I have been full time employed all my adult life - my son is 4, diagnosed with autism and despite having an EHCP and a funded 1:1 in school, his school will only allow him in for 2.5hrs a day so I am unable to work now to facilitate this.
I’m worried about getting in trouble for claiming anything I’m not entitled to.
any advice would be so appreciated!
thankyou!

his school will only allow him in for 2.5hrs a day

Unless the school is formally suspending DS, this is an unlawful, informal exclusion. Inform the school DS will be attending full-time unless they formally suspend. You need an early review of DS’s EHCP.

New style ESA and Carer’s Allowance are overlapping benefits. So, whilst you can be entitled to both, you won’t be paid the full amount of both. What happens then is you get the new style ESA amount (how much depends on age and which stage of the claim you are at/what group awarded) and if this is less that the carer’s allowance amount (for many it isn’t less) the money you receive is topped up with carer’s allowance. This page explains it.

Thanks for your reply, he is 4 and just started reception so it’s billed as a “graduated start” which I agreed to as I do think it’s better for him to build up his hours in school gradually, but 2.5hrs almost a term in is ridiculous especially given the support he is funded for.

From the link you posted, have I got this correct that because contribution based ESA is slightly more than carers allowance that this would basically replace the carers allowance as you can’t claim both? Is that right? Thanks again x

You can’t receive money from both unless the New Style ESA is less than the carer’s allowance (it does sometimes happen. It depends on the claimant’s age and claim) in which case the New Style ESA would be topped up.

If you want DS to attend more, he can unless the school is suspending. The admissions code makes it clear it is the parent’s decision to send full time or part time until CSA, or not at all until CSA or the beginning of the summer term whichever is first.