Carers Allowance and Universal Credit

[Yorky55]

hy, In a nutshell;

- current contract  work part time Mon to Fri 24 hrs

- Unpaid year off break to become family member full time carer

- Need to either go back to work at end of next month, start of July or leave

- Application for Transfer was turned down

 

- Letter to go in this week with a application form to request change of contract, hrs, days so that I can look after family member

- change requested will be work mon, tues, wed but not more than 13.5hrs or 14, then breaks deducted to stay within legal earnings limit as carers allowance is received

- it is not possible to work thur, fri sat, sun due to care needs and travelling for adult disabled family member

 

Ive done a bit of digging, I can send application for reduction of the hrs and contract which i think the govt said I can legally do. Doesnt mean the company has to be bound legally by it. It may be that it isnt suitable and there for ask me to resign. Or they may agree! Or terminate my employment.

But as I am a full time family carer for a family member within the same household, I should have a good case to argue. 

 

Caring for family adult learning disability; full time, currently unpaid from work, unpaid carer

- receive weekly carers allowance

This is what I have searched on so far;

- can only receive from employment £132 a week, after Tax, NI, deductions in all about £201.00 a week, but this is taxable and needs to be entered on tax submission, but if less than personal allowance then no tax may be paid?

 

- I believe NI is paid as long as you get the carers allowance, although gap between break in employment and start of carers allowance may not be?

 

-Should employment end due to company not happy in change of hrs and I have to leave, then only the carers allowance would for be the income, If UC is applied for would this allowance be deducted from what UC give or the person I cared for be affected

 

- Savings may affect if you get UC or not

 

- Certainly cant be available for looking for work as full time carer

 

anyone have any points, help or advice on this issue please

 

Does anyone have any further knowledge or experience of this to advice me, what legal or other rights, but if I quit or asked to quit, would claiming benefits as such be suspended for quitting a job, thanks

 

 

[Badtimes123]

Hello Yorky,

 

If you earn less than the taxable allowance then correct, no tax will be taken.

 

Edited: to remove my questioning due to info being spread across 2 threads - I'll await thread merge to help where I can.

 

Ooooh wait, does this tie in with the other thread you created? your other thread makes more sense now!

 

An admin will likely be along shortly to combine them, perhaps then it will be easier to help you.

Edited May 21, 2022 by Badtimes123
as above

[dx100uk]

done.

 

 

[Badtimes123]

Thanks dx, still a bit lost as to exactly what you are looking for.

 

But I took to google, and:

Carer's Allowance: Effect on other benefits - GOV.UK

WWW.GOV.UK

---

Apply for Carer's Allowance - money to help you look after someone who needs to be cared for. Apply online or use form DS700.

 

And Savings:

"How much your capital and savings are worth may affect the amount of Universal Credit (UC) you get: If you have capital and savings below £6,000, your UC will not usually be affected."

 

More:

Browse: Benefits and financial support if you're caring for someone - GOV.UK

WWW.GOV.UK

---

Help if you regularly spend time caring for someone. Includes Universal Credit.

 

And give the Carer's Allowance Unit a call for exacting answers

 

Best of luck

[Yorky55]

hy thanks for info.

2 issues,

 

1 is my employment,

application to reduce contract and hrs due to my being full time family carer un paid.  I believe there is a govt note of legally being able to put an application for reduction of hrs and contract [they don't legally have to approve it] as long as I dont resign or quit, it will be them who will have to say bye bye or terminate I think, but the caring part should be a good argument rather than me give up just over 10 years service

 

- this part is what I need help and advice on please

 

2 is about the carers allowance finance which you have touched on

 

Many thanks, have until end of june 2022 to say what I am doing, but I need to get a letter and application form done and sent in in the next week or so

 

[dx100uk]

YOUR carers allowance is always deducted from any other benefits the person you are caring for gets.

 

if you get CA your class 1 NI contributions are made for you.

[Badtimes123]

No expert, but common sense usually prevails with most employment laws (in my own experience that is).

Due to your time in service they will have to consider any request for change of contract carefully and provide justification for any rejection.

 

i don't know your type of work but you mentioned you requested transfer.. Perhaps flexible working is an option for you?

I took to google once again: (I can't link sites)

Employer should consider an application for flexible working:

• flexible start and finish times
• compressed working hours
• annualised working hours
• working from home

Reduction in hours would follow same process, just speak with them and request it.

 

If they reject, then your in-place contract applies and you will be expected to resume and furnish that contract, otherwise yes dismissal likely due to absence policy eventually.

 

Having just spent a decent amount of time scrolling web results to searches, I think you've already done that too given what you've said, so I would suggest you call the helpline to get official answers

Edited May 21, 2022 by Badtimes123

[Yorky55]

thankyou @dx100uk 

- NI query sorted so am i right in thinking for next 4 years till I retire, If im not working for whatever reason, I recieve the CA and NI paid to go towards state pension.

- My C/A isnt taken from the UC  or PIP the other person gets. I did speak to the UC department some months ago, they sent a letter explaining  this.  But if I apply for UC myself they may take it from mine, I think.

 

I have an awful lot of things to sort out.

 

@Badtimes123 Thank you for your help and time.

 

Currently, working for retail store, grocery and non food. Flexible Contract, 5 days of 24 hrs  minus breaks.

 

- As I am now a family unpaid, full time carer due to the caring needs of the one I am caring for, Thur, Frid, is not possible and I dont work weekends.

- One practical suggestion for me to retain employment, is Mon, Tue, Wed , AM, but only up to 14hrs minus breaks. To do more than this would affect the one I am caring for and lose CA.

- Composing letter this week referring to the above, then seeking guidance on this

[Badtimes123]

You've definitely a valid case to request a change, nothing wrong with asking in your request (or as a counter in the case of rejection), what recommendations they have to  support you in the circumstances as you wish to remain in employment with them, as the loyal employee you have been so far.

 

Fingers crossed for you

[Yorky55]

Not sure if this right space to post.

Am i right in reading and thinking the following;

 

Ok, if you receive carers allowance all £68+ of it. 

if you are working part time,

that is fine, you can earn £132 after deductions. Both need to be entered on Tax forms and noted on working tax credit forms.

 

If you no longer are employed;

apply for UC as carer with allowance, possibly £334.91 monthly UC, but the allowance £68 is deducted from this amount. As full time carer doing over 35hrs a week, you will not be required to look for or take on work.

 

NI is paid through the carers allowance.

 

 

If employment ends, do you still get working tax credits as full time carer with allowance or does this end.

 

Am I right in the above. 

 

I know its a mouthfull but need to get all my info and details right before making or having to make applications

thanks

 

[Badtimes123]

Hi again Yorky, admins may merge this as you approached this topic in your other thread, albeit in a thread discussing employment..

 

I would suspect it would depend on the thresholds if it is available to carers, but honestly, you should just ask the Agency in charge of this, or make the application and find out.

 

Also, sorry to nitpick, please use '?' for your questions, it's difficult to figure out what are your statements and what are your questions, this will assist people trying to help you.

 

 

[brassnecked]

They will deduct  carer's allowance paid by carer's from any UC payment.

[dx100uk]

threads merged again for full history

 

dx

 

[Yorky55]

Just read through this question. At present I receive carers allowance, which I know My NI is paid, so when I retire in the next 5 years, Ill get state pension. So if at some point I go on UC, as my part time work has ended, They take off the Carers allowance.  If this happens;

 

Q - is my NI still paid to wards state pension.

Q - I will still be full time carer, so would the UC part also stop

Q - state pension is over 150.00 pw now I think, so my Carers allowance would finish, but would I get any help with UC towards caring

 

thanks

[Badtimes123]

Hi Yorky, did you post in here by accident? you have an existing thread for your questions.

[Yorky55]

oh sorry. I was reading the original question and replies. Hadnt realised I posted in wrong section

[Badtimes123]

No worries, it's easy done post in your thread

 

Admin - please delete mine and Yorky's posts from this thread

[dx100uk]

Posts moved to existing thread

 

dx

[unclebulgaria67]

@Yorky55

 

Q - is my NI still paid to wards state pension.

Q - I will still be full time carer, so would the UC part also stop

Q - state pension is over 150.00 pw now I think, so my Carers allowance would finish, but would I get any help with UC towards caring

 

Carers Allowance and UC pay credits towards state pension.   CA pays class 1 credits and UD class 3 credits.

 

You can get a Carers Element under UC claim, if person cared for is in receipt of disability benefit and you care for them for more than 35 hours per weel.  This is provided nobody else is registered as Carer.  Be careful, if the person cared for receives disability premiums, as they may loose these, following you claiming as Carer.   CA is deducted from UC awards as you are aware.

 

UC is a working age benefit, so the claim would end when state pension age is reached.  The only exception to this, is if you are part of a joint claim with a partner who is below state pension age.  

 

When you get near to state pension age, you should contact benefits advice service. 

 

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/benefits-calculator/

[Yorky55]

thankyou @unclebulgaria67 at least I understand more now.  I wouldnt want theperson to lose any of there money, pointles me claiming it!  There is a lot for me to consider in the next few months.  If my work goes down the pan, I may just cash in a pension, use that for 4 years, Retire and look after family member , then they dont lose out on there  payments, especialy with high fuel bills