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Basically, if you are over the age of sixteen and care
for a person (who gets Attendance allowance AA - or Disability Living Allowance
DLA) you may be entitled to Carer's Allowance. One of the criteria is that you
must be looking after that person for at least 35 hours during the week.
Those in full time education - having supervised study of 21
hours per week - or more - will not be allowed to claim this Carer's Allowance.
Carer’s Allowance is not available if you are a full
time student doing
21 hours a week - or more of properly supervised study. Neither is it
available to you if you earn more than £95 a week net after income tax etc.
The current (2008) weekly rate for Carer's Allowance is £50.55.
This can be reduced further if other types of benefits are being received.
A recent report by a committee of MP's has
criticised the way in which Carers are treated when applying for
carer's Allowance etc.
Out of the £38 million which is set aside for
carers by way of employment support, only £25 million was spent last
year. This is mainly because the Job Centres have not been
pro-active enough in guiding applicants. A section that needs to be
looked at, is the fact that job Centres are not geared up to help
with part time work, yet this is often the best way forward for
those who are carers.
If you are a carer who gets a state pension, then
you are not entitled to Carers Allowance. BUT! You still have to
apply for it to make sure you get other top-up benefits to which you
are entitled! Someone in Government needs to get a grip of things!
In the Report by the select Committee of MP's, the
chairman notes that " "The value of the service that these unpaid
carers provide to society is not reflected in the quality of the
DWP's arrangements for providing them with financial and other
support.
"Carers who apply for benefits should not have to wade through
official written guidance and communications which can range from
the hard-to-understand to the downright incomprehensible, and they
should not have to be jumping through unnecessary hoops to apply for
benefits and allowances."
Harriet Harman, minister for women and equality - hahaha! "This
government recognises the importance of this family care, and those
who go out to work as well as care for older relatives. That is why
we brought in the right to request flexible working for those who
care for older and disabled relatives." So what have they been doing
over the last 10 or so years! There are still far too many anomalies
and obstacles in the way for people who care for loved ones and
relatives.!
Detailed look at Carer's Allowance -
to follow....
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