What's the benefit of being assessed as A carer when you're not entitled to means tested benefits ?

Replies

By kerry.

Re: What's the benefit of being assessed as A carer when you're not entitled to means tested benefits ?
Thu 28 Aug 2008 13:30

Hi Spam
A carers assessment would benefit you in that you will have it written down what your entitlements are regarding respite, support, and so on.
It is a report of YOUR needs not your partners. E.g. perhaps if you need support for him while you are at work, help getitng him up or to bed, helping with feeding, housework and stuff like that.
So yes it is definatelyworth having one done as it is a legal document.
I don't know if it will help with other issues like getting work done on your house to adapt to his needs etc.

By Spambeans

Re: What's the benefit of being assessed as A carer when you're not entitled to means tested benefits ?
Thu 28 Aug 2008 13:32

Thanks Kerry - All I'm worried about with the assessment - is that I might be setting myself up for interference by social services. I'm well aware however that there may be situations that I can't handle in the future.

By ColinB

Re: What's the benefit of being assessed as A carer when you're not entitled to means tested benefits ?
Thu 28 Aug 2008 16:27

as for work that can be done by coucil..does your husband have an OT--they should be able to both advise and arrange for aids, adaptations and advice

By loopy

Re: What's the benefit of being assessed as A carer when you're not entitled to means tested benefits ?
Thu 28 Aug 2008 16:44

you should be able to get some help i would of thought. Maybe it is worth contacting your local citizens advice bureau. Its worth looking into because you dont know. This government have a habit of not telling you what you are entitled too!!!

By JeanM

Re: What's the benefit of being assessed as A carer when you're not entitled to means tested benefits ?
Fri 29 Aug 2008 19:57

Get in contact with the OT from your local health centre. They came out for us and did ramps for both front and back door, as well as grab rails etc.
I have never had a carers assessment either, but they just came, assessed my OH's needs and provided.

By Spambeans

Re: What's the benefit of being assessed as A carer when you're not entitled to means tested benefits ?
Sat 30 Aug 2008 23:19

Thanks all

By morello

Re: What's the benefit of being assessed as A carer when you're not entitled to means tested benefits ?
Mon 1 Sep 2008 08:44

Just a final word, you have enough to do , dont waste your time, you get no help, no support and it just provides the social worker with more excuses for paper work instead of actually bothering. The listen, but they dont hear, and they take no notice of the assessment, it is merely a tool to placate you. As for OT well their role is pretty much the same, they come , they look , they ask questions and go and thats it. I had an assessment done on my caree and 10 months later when things had completely changed, I received a copy saying "enclosed is a copy of your recent assessment " Bit of a joke dont you think, would I please return a signed paper saying that it had been received. Well of course I will in 10 months time. Not even a stamped addressed envelope, but then we carers are so rich arent we? Forget assessment a waste of your time.
Mo

By mel

Re: What's the benefit of being assessed as A carer when you're not entitled to means tested benefits ?
Mon 1 Sep 2008 13:18

Hi Spam,

You being assessed as a carer will not have any affect on the physical improvements around the home such as ramps etc, as that will need to be assessed by the OT in your husbands name. However a carers assessment will entitle you to support in your own right, it depends on what your local authority is like, but generally sitting services and domestic services are provided in all areas, some la's are quite good and inventive in the support they can provide but others just do the minimum.

with regard to the adaptations, if your husband is registered as disabled he does not have to pay the VAT on the adaptations from the builder, so make sure you look into that. If you have the adaptations done through OT in Local Authority it will be means tested. If you have over around 20,000 savings you would end up paying the full charge.

Sounds like morello had a pretty poor experience with the carers assessment, a lot of problems are because SW's have anywhere up to 100 people on their caseload and there's just not enough time. The problem is that you will need time to discuss your needs as a carer, so If you do not want a social worker to do the carers assessment some other agencies do them as well, such as crossroads. but whoever you get to do it, make sure they are aware that it will need to be a long appointment so that you have the appropriate time.

By ians1

Re: What's the benefit of being assessed as A carer when you're not entitled to means tested benefits ?
Tue 2 Sep 2008 10:21

Only just seen this, sorry. You say spam that
"I am working full time and we are not entitled to any means tested benefits" can I ask how do you know this? Not to say you have not been and done it already, but you may benefit (literally) from going to first any JobcentrePlus and also you local Housing Benefits office (usually at your local authorities offices) and asking them for a full entitlement check to be done. It may take some time as JCP have specialist staff that are only available some of the time so you may have to ask for an appointment.

The reason I say this is because many people do not realise what the new rates and qualifying criteria are, many folk that could get some HB and CTB do not get it simply because they dont claim it. Likewise tax credits. Tax credits are dealt with by the Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Tel 0845 300 3900

There is also the Benefits Enquiry Line that may be useful to check your entitlements
Tel 0800 88 22 00 They can deal with any very complicated benefit situations and they have all the rules and regs in front of them.

I agree some of the assessments are not much use, but bear in mind that you or your caree or both may be assessed as needing a provision for help/care etc, so they may grant a Direct Payment for you and your Caree to get what you need, and it CAN include one off payments for things you need.

I would try the OT as a matter of urgency and try to explain in as much detail as possible what exactly the problems are you face, because from my experience although they are trained they dont always cotton on to whats the trouble.

Hope this helps