quote:
Originally posted by Ella:
I don't really understand this and I know some people here recieve CA so thought this would be a good place to ask. I applied for it in June and got a letter at the end of July to say I was eligible and they would write to me when it had all been sorted out. Just got a letter to say that yes I was eligible from the dat in June and that they owed me ÂĢ80 but they wouldn't be paying me it because I was receiving Income Support during that time. Is that right? They can just do that? They will start paying me from next week on top of my I.S but for some reason they say any money I would have got from June to now they can keep?
And does it usually take so long fro writing to say yes you are eligible to them actually sorting out payments?
Sorry if I've confused anyone but I'm completly confused myself.
These are the rates of carers allowance at present.
ÂĢ53.10 Personal Rate benefit
ÂĢ31.70 Increase for a spouse, partner or other adult dependant
ÂĢ 8.20 Increase for eldest/only child dependent
ÂĢ11.35 for each subsequent dependent child
If you claim Income support and that rate is more than the Carers Allowance that would have been paid had Income Support not been in payment then all you would qualify for would be the carers premium. Income Support is classed as an Overlapping Benefit for Carers Allowance purposes. They say you are entitled to Carers Allowance though so that gives you an underlying entitlement but they can't pay it because you are in receipt of Income Support. and therefore eligible for the Carers Premium also because you are getting income Support.
However Carers Premium also takes into account any overlapping benefits you might have, such as Income Support.
So they add up how much Invalid Care Allowance you are entitled to and how much Carers Premium.
If Income Support exceeds that amount i don't think you'll get anything.
If Income Support is less than the Carers Allowance and the Carers premium you will get the difference paid with your Income Support.
That's my understanding of it anyway ella.
Here is a link for you about the rates and so on.
mation/a-z_of_benefits/carers_allowance.htm