Carer's Allowance & Qualifying Benefits (Oliver Mawdsley, Outreach Manager at the Carer’s Allowance Unit, Department for Work & Pensions)
Oliver explained that there are 6 million carers in the UK but only 1 million are claiming Carers Allowance. His job is to raise awareness about Carer’s Allowance. Carers are entitled to claim Carers Allowance from the age of 16, it is not means tested and pays £58.45 per week.
Those receiving a state pension receive a higher amount than this so this is called an overlapping benefit. ‘Overlapping Benefit Rule’: you can’t normally get Carer’s Allowance and the State Pension paid together (i.e. two income-replacement benefits) but you may be able to claim the extra amount in Pension Credit.
Pension Credit is a means tested benefit but the threshold is much higher than many people think. Guaranteed pension credit – feeds into Carer’s Allowance and can get £33 extra. Can make a telephone call to a freephone number 0800 88 22 00 and it is a simple process. If your state pension is less than £58.45 per week you are entitled to receive Carer’s Allowance. This provides a gateway to other possibilities – e.g. Pension Credit and Pension Credit Premium. To claim Carer’s Allowance: You must be looking after someone for at least 35 hours per week. The cared-for must be getting Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance. “What is the difference between Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance?” Carer’s Allowance is paid to the carer and Attendance Allowance is a qualifying benefit paid to the cared-for.
East Sussex Carers’ Forum Report | February 2013
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