Direct Payments : Paying A Family Member To Care ? NO ... But The Jury Is Out And Showing No Sign Of Returning !

[Chris From The Gulag]

Just a question asked on the Daily Chuckle's " Money Mail " section that should set off alarm bells throughout ALL of CarerLand :

Should you pay grandparents to look after the kids ? They would earn more than double their state pension if given average babysitting wage.

Grandparents would earn £19k a year if they were paid to babysit grandchildren.

More than half of parents admit grandparents provide childcare at least three times a week.

Around 40% said they preferred their child to be looked after by a family member if further babysitting was required.

Grandparents / grandchildren ... informal KINSHIP carers ?

Grandparent caring for a son / daughter ... NO CA ... overlapping benefit rule if said grandparent receives the State Pension.

But , being paid a " Wage " to care for a grandchild ?

See where this is heading.

As they say up north ... early doors ... but yet another one to keep a close eye on ?

[Chris From The Gulag]

AT LAST , A REAL , LIVE , CASE !!!

https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news ... -1-5849273

Man " Surviving off can of tuna a day’ as he cares for both parents

A son caring for both his parents is “ Surviving off a can of tuna a day” and has ended up in rental arrears because his slashed benefits can’t cover his living costs.

John McDermott, 47, of Pilgrims Way, has been the sole carer for his father, Patrick, who suffers from severe incontinence and dementia, and his schizophrenic mother, Katherine, both 77, for four years.

He spends 18 hours a day caring for both of them at his mother’s flat, at Margaret Macmillan House, in Hazellville Road, but says he went six months without getting Carers Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and had been living off just £93 a week paid via a direct care arrangement involving his sister, Mary, and Islington Council.

“It’s been like hell for four years,” he said. “I’m 47 years old but I feel 101. I’ve gone grey and have an ulcer in my stomach.

“The last four years fighting for what is just has left me a nervous wreck – I’ve been screaming out for help.

“I’m surviving on a can of sweetcorn and tuna a day and have been for the past few years now.”

John received a back payment of £1,300 from the DWP in late December, paying back about six months’ worth of £62 weekly payments, which have now resumed.

A DWP spokesperson said it was “important people tell us about their circumstances [...] to ensure they get the right level of support”.

His father spent a year in Highbury New Park Care Home but was discharged in 2014 because he felt Patrick’s care needs weren’t being met there.

Patrick is now back living with Katherine with John as their sole carer.

“Mum is a schizophrenic,” John added. “And she has been absolutely failed as well.

“She just rocks back and forth every day and thinks shadow people are trying to kill her.

“It’s a great stress on me and all they do is come and give her an injection once every month.”

In October Islington Council sent John a letter saying his housing benefit would be “recalculated” due to a “change in circumstances”, adding that he owes them £2,578.

He believes this is because he’s seen as employed, owing to the £93 a week he gets to care for his parents.

An Islington Council spokesperson said: “We’re concerned about the issues raised by Mr McDermott and will meet him to discuss these further.

“A care package is in place and is kept under review.

“We’re working with Mr McDermott to help sort out his benefits and his rent arrears.

“We have not begun any legal action relating to his rent arrears, and he is not at risk of eviction.

“We will do everything we can to help people with housing benefit and will avoid evictions for arrears wherever possible.

“If people are struggling with benefit issues or arrears we recommend they contact us as soon as possible so we can help.”

Direct Payments / family members / DWP saying " Employed " / benefits stopped / after liaising with LA , CA reinstated ?

Yep ... all the ingredients to fit under this thread.

( Exactly what I have been saying all along ! )

Report is too brief , and lacking in real meat , to comment any further.

Bets on whosoever upstairs has picked this one up inside CUK.

Opening show ... 250-1 ... lengthening !!!

Question for the LA ... " How many more on your manor are receining DP's DESPITE being family members ?
Some , no doubt , are in for a very rude and expensive awakening ???????? "

[pipsy]

My question is do the exceptional circumstances need to be proved in documentation or another person as a witness?

I've been told twice by the social work I cannot be employed by my brother due to living in the same household. I have now spoken to 2 people and 2 agencies (who do 3rd party option) that employ carers then send them to their families who they feel most comfortable with.

Also, i heard some councils are strict while others are relaxed.

[Chris From The Gulag]

For the answer to that question , the Carers UK Advice Team are to be recommended.

This whole issue is with CUK to try to sort out.

We have done all we can at forum level.

So far , we on the forum have not been advised of their findings ... if any.

Contact details ... best by email :

https://www.carersuk.org/forum/support- ... line-24147

We will be most interested in the outcome ... to say the very least !

If necessary , just refer them to this thread !

[Chris From The Gulag]

Been trawling for an hour and a bit ... absolutely nothing posted which could add fuel to this issue.

No mention of said issue from our c.e.o. in her recent appearance.

I can do little more other than to diarise forward ... and keep this issue fresh in the minds of readers.

It ain't going away sometime soon.

[Chris From The Gulag]

Interesting ... Twitter comments in response to tonight BBC Panorama ... several mentioning their LA's
now paying family members to care through Direct Payments !

Who disturbed the forest full of wasps / hornets nests ???

More on this once I've done some detective work ... again !

[Chris From The Gulag]

Mmmm ... seek and ye shall find ?

John McDermott ... earlier posting ... receiving DP's from Islington Council to help care for a family member.

Also claiming income related benefits.

Archway Gazette :

In October Islington Council sent John a letter saying his housing benefit would be “recalculated” due to a “change in circumstances”, adding that he owes them £2,578.

He believes this is because he’s seen as employed, owing to the £93 a week he gets to care for his parents.

More ammunition ... now into MONTH 9 since this issue was kicked upstairs to CUK.

JUST HOW MANY MORE JOHN McDERMOTTS ARE OUT THERE ... SITTING ON A POWDER KEG ... WITH THE FUSE JUST HAVING BEEN LIT ???

[Melly1]

One to watch.

Melly1

[Chris From The Gulag]

One to watch ?

On me third set of pegs for me eyes !

Another couple of months ard time for the thread's second birthday celebrations ?

It's ugly twin sister thread ... AA / DLA / PIP ... not far behind.

Definately two threads that should have been stranged at birth ... eh CUK ???

[Chris From The Gulag]

As anticipated , question left with CUK on the recent Benefits / Community Law session remains unanswered.

Question ?

https://www.carersuk.org/forum/social-a ... 9?start=20

So ... anyone following this thread ... or worried by what it reveals ... no joy from CUK.

The words OSTRICH and SAND spring to mind ... with just how many family carers potentially at risk ?????????????

Oh well , diaise forward ... I will keep monitoring for ANYTHING out there that will add / detract from this issue.

Anyone with any questions ?

CUK ADVICE TEAM !

( John McDermott case / ruling ... if only the DWP had gone after the LA as well ... how was John to know that the LA was cupable by NOT spelling out what he had to do once DP's were allowed to be paid over ... might have opened up this whole issue ... and lead to a change in the law !

Unless , of course , someone high up in the DWP decided to let sleeping atom bombs lie ... " Not in the public interest to persue an LA " ... ???

Oh well , a golden opportunity missed ... thanks for nothing , DWP !!!)