Carers allowance and earning over £102 (now £110) per week.

[Karen_19051234]

Carers allowance earnings threshold is now at April 2019 £123 per week. But beware: if you are paid monthly then you will subject to a monthly wages cap not a weekly one, just found this out recently, DWP never told me, just happened to find out when I informed them I was no longer self employed along with being employed. What got me is; I'm informing them I'm losing a source of income so they stop my money to investigate that I'm not earning too much - can't see the logic in that?! When they finally after some months then decided I was indeed still eligible for CA - duh - I got sent a letter saying that my monthly cap was £520 (2018) but, sometimes my pay run is a 5 week one not a 4 week one so that actually took me over my monthly pay cap, the DWP do not take this into account AT ALL! For the sake of a few pounds over on some of these 5 week pay runs I lost a total of £750! even though my weekly pay was within the weekly pay cap!! Was so incensed I wrote to my local MP about this anomaly, she saw my point so forwarded my exasperated email to the minister concerned, whom I presume forwarded it onto the DWP? because I got a phone call from them the other day stating that I could work to the weekly pay cap from now on not this monthly one and that I was still eligible and that my CA would be re-instated. "WHAT? you've stopped my money again without telling me, but you've only just paid me my back payment and confirmed I was eligible!"

[Chris From The Gulag]

Hi Karen.

You might want to keep a eye on the following thread in case the originator reports back in :

https://www.carersuk.org/forum/support- ... pped-36997

Similar 4 / 5 week problem.

[stephen_19051]

Hi - My issue relates to how Carers Allowance is affected by one-off earnings as a poll clerk / presiding officer from the recent elections. Was wondering if other carers had similar experience or insight?

I took early retirement last year to care for my elderly mother. I earn about £260 per month part-time at the local NHS, to subsidise works pension and carers allowance. I'm not entitled to means tested benefits. I've had no problems until now with getting my CA as earnings have always been well below the £120/£123 weekly threshold.

Over many years I've undertaken Poll clerk or presiding officer at elections (ie; within election week; administering at a polling station on election day from 6.30am to 10pm, plus half day working at subsequent voting counts. But the May 2019 elections were the first I've undertaken as a CA recipient.

I phoned Carers Allowance Unit to report my earnings for the 2 weeks around 3rd May and 23rd May election days, in anticipation of the CA being withdrawn for the two weeks when the £123 earnings threshold was exceeded. But I was told my election day earnings - despite not being monthly paid and via a different employer - may be combined with my part-time NHS salary, thus calculated monthly. As my election payments fall in separate months, my combined earnings over the 2 months are likely to narrowly exceed the £123 average (I have no deductions to declare such as substitute care or pension contributions), meaning I could lose 8 or 9 weeks' CA for just a couple of days work!

Pending CA Unit decision maker ruling, I've looked at Disability Rights guidance on earnings regarding CA. Here the focus is HOW earnings are paid - eg; monthly earnings are converted to weekly equivalent (x 12 divided by 52) for assessment against the £123 threshold.
The local authority who employ poll clerks and presiding officers say they are neither weekly or monthly paid - theirs are one-off wages for a specified period. The Disability Guidance indicates my CA therefore being stopped for two weeks only (as I originally envisaged)? The DWP has such a bad reputation and I am nervous that CA Unit may rule otherwise, meaning the only option would be an appeal.

I wonder if any other carers who do poll clerking-type work have had similar experience or ideas on this?

[Chris From The Gulag]

Hi Stephen.

Several postings recently on the " Averaging " problem ... seems certain DWP Units are giving conflicting advice.

Best to have a word with the experts out there ... CAB and / or CUK's Advice Team ... links for both follow ... CUK best
by email :

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

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

Strangely , the UC Unit are pretty geared up ... several near neighbours on zero hour contracts ... takes a little while but ...
weekly earnings are averaged out ... although the UC award often chases the earnings !

Real " Fun " when the earnings drop to zero over the weeks following the last averaging out !

[Freddie_1905]

My biggest beef with Carers Allowance is that it cannot be claimed by those over 65. It seems that the State Pension is considered a 'benefit' even though I have been contributing all my working life. How can that be right. I know many OAPs who care for family members at 70 plus including heavy duty moving and handling. How is that right ?The stupid idea that it can be claimed but no financial remuneration is provided surely defeats the purpose of the allowance in the first place.

[Chris From The Gulag]

Yep ... echoes across the aeons , one of the very first postings on any Internet forum back in 2004.

( Age ? 103 recorded in the past couple of years ... even senior citizens carers moving their caree in with them
when a care home is the only real option. )

For the FULL sp on that . look no further :

https://www.carersuk.org/forum/support- ... 0committee

Outlined , along with all other injustices by our Lord Kitch ... the modern day equivalent of THE CARERS LETTER back in 2009 :

https://www.carersuk.org/forum/news-and ... rd%20kitch

Quite a bit of our history to catch up on , Freddie ?

[Jamie_1603]

Hi I am not working an just receiving the usual carers allowance and also income support top up but my person I am a carer for likes to attend the cinema and has recently joined a gym that I am required to attend with to support him can I claim anything back for these or do I need to be working for to claim these expenses back. Any advise would would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Jamie

[Chris From The Gulag]

As a carer claiming CA , travel expenses ... no go area for any tax or other relief.

As for the whole issue regarding public transport and family / kinship carers :

https://www.carersuk.org/forum/news-and ... ndon-28026

If your caree pays for you to travel , would the TaxMan see that as a " Benefit in kind ?

Or the Doleman as " Undeclared income ? "

Ambiguity / grey areas ... the bane of CarerLand ?

A Carers Assesment through your LA might prove to be of assistance here :

https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advic ... assessment

Usual health warning ... waiting time ... a real post code lottey !

[bowlingbun]

If your caree wants to go to the cinema, then the CAREE has to pay your costs!

However, there might be good news too, because your caree might be entitled to a cinema card so you get in free.

Google "CEA cinema card" for further information.

[Chris From The Gulag]

Yep ... spot on BB.

https://www.ceacard.co.uk/

The Card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema.

The Card is also one way for cinemas to make sure they look after their disabled guests. If you require an adjustment to visit a cinema because of your disability, cinema staff should make them for you whether you have a CEA Card or not.

The Card is developed by UKCA’s Disability Working Group, whose members include film exhibitors and distributors, and national disability charities such as Action on Hearing Loss, the RNIB, Dimensions and Muscular Dystrophy UK.

Costs £ 6 up front ... eligibility ?

https://www.ceacard.co.uk/eligibility