Non carer...

Replies

By kerry.

Re: Non carer...
Thu 1 May 2008 22:35

oh- casdok,
Im sorry for your situation and dont know the answers (altho im sure others on here will) but i wouldnt think they could stop ALL your income spt etc.
they do make me sick with their "go and get a life"- like its that easy!
but maybe you could consider college to train for something?
part time maybe- they do consider difficult circumstances and it may give u time to think about your change in circumstances too.
its not just our carees that are affectd by these changes! but the SS/welfare/govt etc dont take any of that into account!

best wishes ad i hope it all work out for you and your son.

By coffee

Re: Non carer...
Mon 5 May 2008 12:07

Hi cas surggest you look at the site
www.direct.gov
contact them now they will be able to help or direct you who can

coffee

By Tricia

Re: Non carer...
Mon 5 May 2008 16:36

Get this information double checked out. My son too is going through transition from children services to adults. I have been informed now that I will not loose any of his or my benefits until he leaves sixth form (special needs sixth form) apart from I will need to have his DLA reassessed when he is 18.

However, I am too single and before my son's 16th birthday use to have to attend back to work assessment interviews. I was fortunate for most of the time as I had a very understanding advisor who too was a carer for a child with speical needs. Then on my second last visit my advisor had changed to a person who was ill informed about the benefit system for a carer. I was told by this advisor that I would only be able to claim carers allowance and nothing else as I admitted that I would not be able to be actively seeking work. Fortunately I am assertive and asked them to check it out as I had been led to believe that I would continue on income support and nothing would change financially. After the advisor checked out this information with the disablitiy officer it was found that I was correct with my information and not the person who was PAID to be there to advise me.

There excuse was they did not have many single parent carers who lived in this area so she had not been informed of the procedures in anyone in my cirucmstances.

So always ask for a second opinion just to double check that the person who has informed you has got their facts correct.

As you will be aware you have to prove that you are providing 35 hours of care per week to be able to claim Carers Allowance. However, if the person you are caring for lives away from home for part of the week the benefits will take into account for the period which they are not at home for. This can cause benefits to be reduced also it will mean that the benefit agency can state that you are not in your caring role through out the week therefore you are available for work.

As for direct payments for being a carer have you had your carers assessment reassessed recently for them to justify in removing this payment of services from you?

It does not take a crystal ball to see in the future and even now happening where a carer comes out of their caring role and has no support or transition put in place for their needs. Not only are we expected to live on the bread line but when we leave our caring role we get no redudancy package, i.e. training or payments to help us on our way we are just expected to pick ourselves up and get out there to survive. This alone does force many carers to breaking point and they end up having to be carerd for.......... costing this country a lot more in the long run instead of listening to the carers needs and putting in place prevention measures.

Hope you get everything sorted out. soon and take care