Hi all,

My probation period at work ended (no fault of mine), during that time at work I paid for someone to supervise my Dad at home, who has a claim in process for Disability Allowance. Apparently it may take MONTHS for my Carer's Allowance to come through, so I did a rapid reclaim for JSA, which was successful.

However, I've now got Reeed on my back with their working program, I had got them to reduce their weekly sessions to an hour the last time, but each time I'm out of pocket, and it's money I was saving for someone to supervise Dad. And NOW apparently there have been some "changes", which I think means I'll be compelled to attend 3x pw - again, this will cost money I've set aside for a carer for Dad whilst I go for signing+job interviews.

It seems to me that neither the JC nor Reede have any experience with people in my position. Neither seems to understand that I'm only on JSA as there's no other benefit until my Carer's comes through, IF it comes through.

If I write this all out in an email to the DWP, are they likely to be so short-sighted as to either compel me to attend 3x a week, or stop/suspend my money?

I remember you from your previous post.

The work prgramme can book you in to see one of their advisers as frequently as they like, it could be once a week or even daily. The only expenses you can claim back from them is your travel expenses so I suggest that each time you attend you claim that back they will soon get fed up paying you to attend and hopefully will back off the weekly attendance again.

Whilst you are claiming JSA you signing to declare that you are actively seeking employment and available to take employment and although they should make some allowances for the fact that you are making a claim for carers allowance until that is actually awarded you are a job seeker.

I would personally advise that you ask for their complaints procedure and make a complaint about the frequecy that you are expected to attend meetings.

If I'm allowed to put a personal commemt here..... you found work which gave them a nice little outcome reward payment which would have continued as long as you continued to be employed byt as that job has ended they have to start working with you again but as I said personal opinion so unsure if that is actually what is happening.

As I remember you from your contributions Flumps, thank you again for them!!

I am, indeed, actively seeking employment, because if I find (reasonably well-paid) work, I can afford to pay my sis-in law an hourly rate to sit home with Dad and for them bore each other with their witless prattle. Otherwise, I can make phone employers/send cv's from home while keeping a beady eye on the old coot.. But I already have to sign fortnightly, and each time I do, I need to pay her for the hour I'm gone. Every time I go for a JOB interview, I'm effectively gone for 3-4 hours.

It's making it very expensive to have to turn up to their ridiculous sessions where all I do is sign paperwork, and if they increase the frequency of those, I am going to be very upset indeed.

Your dad might be able to get direct payments (don't know much about them - sure someone will give you some information) to pay for people to care for him.

If your dad has a claim in for DLA and it can be confirmed as registered and you have put a claim in for Carers Allowance then make a claim for I.S you of have condition of entitlement... of course if you have capital over 16k or a partner who works over 24 hrs then you will not qualify.

You will be paid untill DLA and CA made their decision.. If both are awarded then you will stay on I.S.

Mikey, the claim for DLA is registered. I can put in the claim for Carer's tomorrow, does that constitute 'Condition of Entitlement' ? Is 'I.S' Income Support?

Yes, IS is income support.

So...switch from JSA to IS, whilst wating for Carer's?

You can make a claim for IS but until a decision is actually made on the award of carers allowance you will not receive a penny in IS unless you have another condition of entitlement.

The DLA and Carers could take weeks if not months to be processed so personally I would not advise changing as you cannot have a claim for both JSA and IS at the same time.

Personally I would recommend continuing with the claim for JSA until the carers is decided and awarded then close the claim for JSA and claim IS, your carers premium will still be payable by the JSA processing team when they receive notification of the award so you won't lose out financially due to that.

Unfortunately you also have to consider the possibility that the DLA may not be awarded at the appropriate rate for you Dad to allow yu to claim for Carers Allowance as he will need to be awarded the middle or higher rate care.

And that would be fine, I don't mind staying on JSA, like I said once I'm back in work I can afford to pay a bit for his f/t supervision, BUT it's this ridiculous business with Reed that is going to cause me hardship if I have to keep attending their silly sessions.

You can make a claim for IS but until a decision is actually made on the award of carers allowance you will not receive a penny in IS unless you have another condition of entitlement.

As long as the disabled person is in receipt of either AA or the mid/high rate of the DLA Care Component, or has applied for it, and the claimant is regularly and substantially caring for them, they are entitled to IS (provided the other conditions are met - income/capital etc)

Claiming IS as a Carer is not solely dependent on CA being awarded. Plenty of people receive IS as carers without receiving Carer's Allowance.

Erika is right as usual You can make a claim to I.S, Income Support on the grounds of being a carer, as I have said as long as the DP, disabled persons claim is registered for DLA then you can claim I.S on the grounds as a carer for that person. You would get £67.50 per week I.S if over twenty five. If the claim is successful for DLA and Carers Allowance is awarded then you will carry on claiming I.S, an extra premium called Carers Premium will be added £31.00 and your CA taken off, but you will be £31 better off...

It doesnt matter how many weeks the DLA decision takes I.S will pay you. Put your claim in for Carers Allowance as soon as you can anyway

If however DLA is not awarded at middle rate or higher rate then you will have to come off Income Support.. You wiill not incur an overpayment of I.S if the DLA application fails

It is your choice OP whether you stay on JSA but at the moment you have grounds for Income Support..

I'll action the claim for IS on Monday then - or can it be claimed online?

I do very much appreciate your help, all you good people!!

You should be able to dit online. I believe you will then get a phone call to go over your claim.

Cheers Stag, I'll do it tomorrow (as nobody's going to call me until Monday, and besides, even the unemployed can enjoy a Saturday night!)

Thanks again, one and all. I'll buy you all a round...whenever I get my next pay packet!!

Enjoy your Saturday night but I would make a claim via the contact centre Monday, or wait untill the day after you next sign on, you can then claim IS and close your JSA claim by

the time your I.S is processed then your normal payment will be due..

You can't claim IS or ESA online now it was removed a few weeks ago.

I agree with Mikey Dabodee, attend your next sign on and then hand in your ES40 card stating you will be claiming IS from the day following. However if the office are competent they will not action the closure that same day or it will mess up your payment by the payments system being unable to issue your payment on the correct day. The closure should then be processed the following day allowing your claim to IS to gothrough with hopefully no problems.