Carers Payment/Allowance

[Inanna]

Thanks Raven I am due to get mine this Thursday... It's actually worked out okay as Immy's big assessment has been changed until later this month so that's all good. Thanks for asking though - money is so tight & tough right now I was feeling stressed!

[Lulu]

I get mine next week too - I didn't think I would because he was granted in March and I nearly cried when the guy told me. Just gotta hang in there for another week!

[briggsy's girl]

as long as you qualify on the date that it is granted (either june 30 or july 1 - can't recall - i think july 1) you get it - no matter when it was granted

for once it's something that looks at the future, not pro rated backwards!

[Nelle]

Can i just ask you chicks in the know, the difference between the carer's allowance and carer's payment? I have the forms here and think I've moved from bewildered to numb...

[Astrolady]

as long as you qualify on the date that it is granted (either june 30 or july 1 - can't recall - i think july 1) you get it - no matter when it was granted

for once it's something that looks at the future, not pro rated backwards!

Yes I realised that last year. Ashton was only the intent to claim. Did that about a week before the financial year ended, and when we were accepted to get the carers allowance we got the supplement as well. Was fully not expecting it being on the intent to claim list at that stage.

[Lulu]

Carer Payment is an income support payment, the Allowance is a supplementary to those looking after kids/adults with a condition or disability.

[Nelle]

So - if I get FTB, I don't need to worry about the carer's payment?

[Lulu]

no it's on top of that, and if you provide extra care etc - do you have a dx yet hun?

[maz]

careers payment is completely different to FTB hon.

[Nelle]

Not a formal dx yet. We're waiting till Nov, but the paed just looked sorry for me when i asked if he was sure we were eligible.

So do i apply for both? I'm very confuuused.

[Lulu]

you'll need a medical practitioner to fill in the forms anyway. You will need some sort of formal dx, so you will have to wait till November hun.

[Nelle]

Sorry, I am being confusing. We do have a dx, but it may change in Nov.

[Astrolady]

Nelle. IMO, it wouldn't hurt to let them know of your intent to claim. Get the forms you need for carers payment/allowance and get a GP to fill them in for you with the dx that you have. If you don't get the extra support you don't get it and there is no harm done 'cept for a few missing brain cells

If it changes in Nov then so be it least you would have had a few months of extra support iykwim.

[Nelle]

The paed is going to fill them in for me, so that's all fine. I'm just not sure if I'm supposed to be applying for the allowance AND the payment.

[briggsy's girl]

Nelle - Carer Payment is for lower income families who provide care for a child/adult with a disability. it would be based on your partners wage as well as the dx. if you jump onto the c'link website and run an estimator, you could check from there if your partners income would qualify you for the carer payment (if the dx was deemed a qualifying "disability"). if his income is close to the thresholds, i would apply for it - better to apply and have it confirmed whether you are or aren't eligible, as opposed to assuming you aren't kwim?

carer allowance is not means tested. it is based purely on the dx and whether or not it is deemed the person requires additional care.

[Nelle]

Thankyou Beeg, now i understand!

[briggsy's girl]

glad i could help!