carers allowance

[Yummymum1]

Having been newly awarded DLA for ds1 (hurrah!!!!),I find that i am entitled to claim for carers allowance as well.
I wondered if anyone else did.I feel a bit guilty for claiming money for looking after my own child! Am i right to feel this way or should i just go for it because i am entitled to it??

What is Carer's allowance ?

Is it means tested ? I think you should claim anything you are entitled to. There will be costs that don't come with an NT child.

DLA is for the child

CA is FOR YOU !!!

(I have an 'underlying entitlement' to it... but because i am on incapacity benefit, i do not actually recieve it. This rule also applies if you earn above their 'income' threshold...which i know is something around £70-£80 a week....I think

Mum23asd it is £95 a week i think, having been looking at the web site this morning!
Thank you for taking some of the guilt away.I have never claimed for any benefits before so it is all a bit new!!
Cyber,you are entitled to CA if you are caring for someone who recives dla at mid to high rate care component and if you do not earn more than stated or claim any other benefits

the 'guilt' thing is awful...I sometimes feel like just stopping getting incapacity benefit- and then i'd get carers allowance...less money- but less guilt- as i feel guilty about IB as i have mental probs- nothing visable- but enough to make commiting to working impossible.
All that stops me is the fear that i may not get my DLA if i decide to stob IB (i get low care/low mobility)

Yes it is awful that we should feel this way when you consider how many people out there claim for and get benefits that they either dont need or are not entitled to, when there are people like us who have sn children or who have sn themselves who feel bad about it!!!

i get it now- on second week of claim. i don't feel i do thzat much but dh points out that i have got used to this way, other people have me time, evening peace etc

there isn't a household income but a personal one- if you can work to earn then ca not paid, they also lok at hours etc but not partners income

don,t forget that you can have carers allowance backdated to when you first claimed DLA. you should claim everything you can. Dont feel guilty you and your DC are entitled to it. Dont know if amount paid varies but i get £49 a week which comes in handy. Claiming carers also means that they pay your national insurance contribution as well!!! The form is very easy nothing like the DLA form.

you can apply online too

i thought was all one amount but i get £50.55?

Wow,i didnt realise it would all be backdated from the dla form.Thats great!!!

Having read all the replies i now dont feel ishouldnt have it.I gave up work when ds1 was born and havent been back partly because there is no way i could have ever have left him with anyone else due to his as and until recently i have had to go everywhere with him,even to friends houses!

So the way i see it now,this is my job,caring for him until such time that he does feel able to go somewhere eg childminder if i have a job.

Thank you for all your helpful replies.

I delayed because I felt odd about it, but went ahead in the end figuring that I was bloody cheap childcare and under £50 a week and that the kids' "social" (read appointments) calendar is so jam packed it's not like I could hold down a job right now, anyhow.