SORRY, should read, I cannot thank everyone on here ENOUGH for all your help LOL

Update. Good news all gone ahead so far smoothly, IS awarded, CA awarded, just waiting for confirmation by letter, first payment tomorrow. I cannot thank everyone here for their help and advice, it's such a relief for myself and my poor old Mum, we can now plan a little holiday by the sea, nice week away in a caravan is what she'd like, been years since she had a holiday. Again many thanks for all your help, best of luck to all.

Your welcome, it's a good thing to have this site to get some help from others in the same situations, I'm sure your the same, I have had so much conflicting info from DWP call centre etc, I come on here to get a clearer idea from people who really know from experience. good luck with it all

getting signatures could be just for CA, as they need the signature of the person you care for, as they need to look into the other persons details, and to confirm they are ok with your application to be their carer, as it could mean they loose some of their benefit. that's how it was explained to me.

I did the phone claim, but you still have to go into JC just to sign the forms, only took 10 minutes for me as it's all on their system, then they send it off to your appropriate claims office, just to point out, as I have just been thru this, although I did the phone claim, it's actually dated from the day you go into sign, and does not get looked at until the benefits office dealing with your area get it, so it does delay things. As mine took 8 days from me doing the on phone application just to get to them, then I was told it could take upto 3 weeks from them getting the paper work, delayed also by the bank holidays, I'm looking at no money for at least a month. they could be in for a long wait if they are not signing the forms till the 11th. good luck with it all

Hi, I did the on line claim for CA a week ago, it kept crashing and I had to keep restarting, finally finished it, but as you have to send in signatures you may as well get the paper form and fill that in, had to do it anyway, so the on line is a bit of a waste of time really.

Thanks Mikey, yes the more I look into it, I'm thinking as she has never had SDP she should not lose any, which will take a lot of worry off me. Like she said to me, just want to sort it out and we can stop the worry and enjoy some good quality time together in the years she has left. I'm nearing 60 myself, job prospect not good, so it would be the endless ESA/JSA Merry go round, We would have had to get someone to be with her if I was in full time work, so it makes sense as she is entitled. I'll keep you posted as to the outcome, again many thanks for your kind advice, enjoy the nice weather

Hi Mikey, thanks for the fast reply. From her paperwork and calls she has made to confirm all this, she only gets, MRC, HRM, State Pension, and Guarenteed pension credit top up of 87.52 she was told she does not get SDP, and there was no mention of severe disability addition, however every time she calls to get a clear idea what she may loose, they are vague and say she may loose 58.00 per week, don't know from where this will be taken. But we will find out in a few weeks, as all the claims are now in. thanks again for your kind help, best wishes

Mikey just an update. Found out Mum does not get SDP. she has never claimed for that. Have put in the claim now for CA, and had interview at JC for Income support, that claim is also now in, just waiting to see what happens next, hopefully it will all go over ok. As for SDP as she is not claiming that, am I correct in thinking she will loose around 58.00 per week from her pension credit ?, they are all a bit vague on what she will loose.

Hi Feebee, well done to you for sticking at it, and I hope you don't have to wait too long for your refund, best wishes.

Many thanks Mikey Dabodee, will be calling them next week and get it going

Feebee , I got a call back from DWP today, just told it's normal for them to send these out to everyone on benefit, but that was it really, I said I have no taxable income, and never had one before, but she just said, yes that's ok, we send them anyway, either she didn't really know, or that's the case, so I'm just leaving it for now as I'm currently looking into other options for my situation. Hope yours is sorted out for you, regards to you.

OK, so should I fill in the form to apply and then tell ESA that's done, or tell them before I apply ? thanks for your help

Thanks Nystagmite, Mum is getting worse and I spend part of every day with her, get her food, shopping etc, even though I have my own difficulties, and I don't live with her (she's just up the street from me) it's probable I will move in eventually, as there's no one else, considering all the changes coming up, I think I'll put in the paperwork now and see what happens. Just wanted to make sure, A) that I am ok to as I'm getting the ESA, B) it will not impact on her too much, re her benefits, but I believe she will loose some, she is ok with that because as she gets worse she would have had to pay someone to come in anyway. It may as well be me than a stranger. So do I claim for Carers Allowance first, then IS ? and do I have to tell ESA before or after I have started the claim etc. thanks again

OK so I'm waiting to go to Tribunal for ESA income related, as DM did not revise the Nil points I got from ATOS, can I claim carers allowance for Disabled parent or should I wait till I've been to the Tribunal, Been considering it for some time as I already do the job but due to my own issues have never claimed for it ? thanks for any advice