Carer's Allowance

parachutay_jump

Hey all,

Just looking for a bit of feedback...I applied for carer's allowance 7 weeks ago. just wondering does anyone have any idea how long it takes to get paid??
Im also on job seeker's benefit as I work part time 2/3 days a week in a hotel too. I understand that might make me only eligible for half rate carer's but as I only get JSB occasionally when I work only 1 day in the week, I'm unsure if I'll get full carer's for the weeks I get nothing from Job Seekers or will I automatically get half rate just because I'm on the live register regardless of getting payments?????

All very confusing and I've been ringing the department of social protection but surprise surprise no feckin' answer!!!

mp22

You might want to have a read here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/carers/half_rate_carers_allowance.html

parachutay_jump

many thanks!!!

flutered

one cannot collect two social welfare payment at the same time, me thinks that one cannot work and draw the cares.

scotgirl

Parachutay, how are you getting on with your carers allowance claim? Have you had a decision yet. mine has been in 6 weeks now. They said it was received on 9th feb and Ishould have an acknowledgement letter soon. Just lookin for others feedback. Thank you

mrsbyrne

carers allowance taking almost 6 months at the moment from beginning to end. if you are working more than 15 hours per week you will be refused. you can continue to work 15 hours but you will not get any JSB/JSA.

mrsbyrne

flutered wrote: »

one cannot collect two social welfare payment at the same time, me thinks that one cannot work and draw the cares.

one can indeed collect two payments at one time but JSA/JSB are excluded from this scheme.

parachutay_jump

hey scotgirl.

You've awhile to go yet im afraid! I sent off my application form in October and only got a reply in January, stating the date of my means test. After the means test, it was another 2/3 weeks before I heard anything again. Then got a form to fill out stating my hours worked (i work part time also) during the period from when I applied to then. When I sent that back, I got word on their decision within a week.

angeleyes

I am applying for it this week and had to ring the Dept today to query something about the form.

I asked about the backlog and the lady told me 16-20 weeks. I don't know how they can justify this kind of a backlog. Its ridiculous.

Imbatman

not trying to hijack the thread but i rang social welfare and they couldnt answer me about my own case,im on disability allowance and really want to find something part time and wanted to know could i do a few hours a week just to get out of the house,they were to ring me back but nothing in a few days,can anyone here help.

yabadabado

angeleyes wrote: »

I am applying for it this week and had to ring the Dept today to query something about the form.

I asked about the backlog and the lady told me 16-20 weeks. I don't know how they can justify this kind of a backlog. Its ridiculous.

they don't try to justify it.

angeleyes

yabadabado wrote: »

they don't try to justify it.

well they should - as my DH said today the person you are looking after could be dead waiting for the Dept to make a decision. Its totally unjust.

mrsbyrne

angeleyes wrote: »

well they should - as my DH said today the person you are looking after could be dead waiting for the Dept to make a decision. Its totally unjust.

alot of the delay in the carers allowance section is a direct result of stringent measures which have had to be put in place to ensure that only eligible applicants are awarded this payment. if you are struggling badly while waiting for your application to be processed, you should go to see your CWO who will assess your eligibility and means test you for a SWA payment. if the person you are caring for dies while the application process is ongoing, and your are subsequently awarded carers allowance, you will receive the payment backdated to the date of application, plus 6 weeks after death.

angeleyes

mrsbyrne wrote: »

alot of the delay in the carers allowance section is a direct result of stringent measures which have had to be put in place to ensure that only eligible applicants are awarded this payment. if you are struggling badly while waiting for your application to be processed, you should go to see your CWO who will assess your eligibility and means test you for a SWA payment. if the person you are caring for dies while the application process is ongoing, and your are subsequently awarded carers allowance, you will receive the payment backdated to the date of application, plus 6 weeks after death.

Thanks for that mrsbyrne - the person I am caring for is my DH and I sincerely hope that he will be around for a long time yet. I am only getting my application in this week so I know that I have a 20 week wait. I know there are stringent measures but I do think that 20 weeks is an inordinate amount of time to have to wait.

mrsbyrne

angeleyes wrote: »

Thanks for that mrsbyrne - the person I am caring for is my DH and I sincerely hope that he will be around for a long time yet. I am only getting my application in this week so I know that I have a 20 week wait. I know there are stringent measures but I do think that 20 weeks is an inordinate amount of time to have to wait.

20 weeks is outrageous, frankly. get it in the post as quickly as possible as they are only backdating to the date of application at the moment and not to the date of diagnosis.i hope your application is processed soon.

danois

mrsbyrne wrote: »

alot of the delay in the carers allowance section is a direct result of stringent measures which have had to be put in place to ensure that only eligible applicants are awarded this payment. if you are struggling badly while waiting for your application to be processed, you should go to see your CWO who will assess your eligibility and means test you for a SWA payment. if the person you are caring for dies while the application process is ongoing, and your are subsequently awarded carers allowance, you will receive the payment backdated to the date of application, plus 6 weeks after death.

Are you sure about this my mam had a claim in for carers and my nan died last week we thought this would just cancel her claim??

Kristopherus

Yes, Mrsbyrne is correct in that.

scotgirl

Thanks parachutay. Yes, im expecting a wait alright, forgive my asking but did your application require the person cared for being sent for medical exam?
And how long in weeks from start to end did your claim run? I dont work and care round the clock. I absolutely agree with the correct checks and tests being done but in this century, prople in need should be dealt with a lot quicker than 6 months.

mrsbyrne

scotgirl wrote: »

Thanks parachutay. Yes, im expecting a wait alright, forgive my asking but did your application require the person cared for being sent for medical exam?
And how long in weeks from start to end did your claim run? I dont work and care round the clock. I absolutely agree with the correct checks and tests being done but in this century, prople in need should be dealt with a lot quicker than 6 months.

my father in law's application was received by carers allowance on 7th october last. he got his first payment last week and is still waiting for arrears.in the application form you completed their was a section for the GP of the person being cared for to complete. if carers department are not satisfied from this information that the person needs full time care and attention, they will write to you and ask you for more information/evidence supporting documentation.

Seamonster

mrsbyrne wrote: »

carers allowance taking almost 6 months at the moment from beginning to end. if you are working more than 15 hours per week you will be refused. you can continue to work 15 hours but you will not get any JSB/JSA.

Just a query on the above, I applied for Carer's Allowance 3 weeks ago and I have been told it can take months to process which is not surprising. My question is that I have been offered a job working 15 hours a week. The wages are really low (Trial period) and far from enough to get to work, pay mortgage and to live. The health board have been very good in giving me supplementary allowance until Carer's Allowance starts, but will I lose this if I take this job? Is there a cut-off on how much you can earn?

Thanks a lot in advance.

angeleyes

Just a quick question - I am assuming just from reading other threads and hearing about other peoples' experiences are they refusing most of the applications. I am really worried that this is what they will do in respect of mine. Its such a bummer having to have your life "on hold" as it were for such an inordinate amount of time.

LegacyUser

I am just coming up to my 20th week and i rang them today for an update.........the lady said the pension officer should be out to see me shortly and then they will make their desicion......................does the pension officer go out to everyone??????

yabadabado

DC81 wrote: »

I am just coming up to my 20th week and i rang them today for an update.........the lady said the pension officer should be out to see me shortly and then they will make their desicion......................does the pension officer go out to everyone??????

Pension officer?never heard of them.Probably an inspector is calling to you.

mrsbyrne

DC81 wrote: »

I am just coming up to my 20th week and i rang them today for an update.........the lady said the pension officer should be out to see me shortly and then they will make their desicion......................does the pension officer go out to everyone??????

If a SW inspector is calling to see you its not unusual really, but no, they dont call to see every Carers applicant.