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Very tricky carers allowance situation

  • 28-04-2018 6:04pm
    #1
    Da Optimist
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 114 ✭✭


    My friend left his wife of 30 years last week. He has moved home to his mother and wants to apply for carers allowance as she is unwell. He works part time farming his small farm. However as his marriage breakup is so recent, there is nothing to prove on paper he is separated and doesn't wish to go down the route of a formal separation just yet. He also owns the family home jointly with his wife. He has some savings.

    The problem is I think carers allowance are going to means text him on his home with his wife, his farm, savings and probably his wife's income (who earns a considerable amount).

    How can he prove to social welfare he is no longer living with his wife? He has no bills in his own name at his mothers address. What about his farm?


Comments

  • #2
    splinter65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    The first thing to do and the only thing to do is to fill up the Carers form ASAP .
    He’s applying from his mothers address which is his current address and one of the first questions on page 2 asks for marital status, he can tick the “separated” box.
    Then he’s not expected to complete the section set aside for his spouse.
    Answer all the questions, ask the mothers GP to complete his/her section, supply evidence of all property and bank accounts and the farm.
    Let off the application and if there’s any further information they need they’ll write looking for it.


  • #3
    Da Optimist
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 114 ✭✭Da Optimist


    Thank you Splinter. How do you have so much knowledge about social welfare?


  • #4
    alibab
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 678 ✭✭✭alibab


    Regardless of all of the above without a formal separation aggrement in place and regardless of what address he applies from he will be jointly assessed with his wife . I have been through this and it’s very black and white


  • #5
    Da Optimist
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 114 ✭✭Da Optimist


    alibab wrote: »
    Regardless of all of the above without a formal separation aggrement in place and regardless of what address he applies from he will be jointly assessed with his wife . I have been through this and it’s very black and white

    Exactly as I feared. Could you tell me your experience and how you worked around it?


  • #6
    alibab
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 678 ✭✭✭alibab


    I had to get the formal separation. Even with that they could not seem to figure it out and did the means test wrong . It dragged out for months as I had to ask for a review etc . Carers allowance as it is takes months with no issues. If you have prsi stamps could apply for carers benefit which is not means tested if you have been paying prsi .


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  • #7
    Da Optimist
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 114 ✭✭Da Optimist


    alibab wrote: »
    I had to get the formal separation. Even with that they could not seem to figure it out and did the means test wrong . It dragged out for months as I had to ask for a review etc . Carers allowance as it is takes months with no issues. If you have prsi stamps could apply for carers benefit which is not means tested if you have been paying prsi .

    Did it take long to get the formal separation through your solicitor? I'm going to mention carers benefit.


  • #8
    splinter65
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    alibab wrote: »
    Regardless of all of the above without a formal separation aggrement in place and regardless of what address he applies from he will be jointly assessed with his wife . I have been through this and it’s very black and white

    So you are saying that you were living at a separate address from your estranged spouse, you applied for Carers Allowance, you stated on the application form that you were separated and you didn’t supply evidence of his or her income, and then you were refused Carers with no further communication from the Dept?


  • #9
    alibab
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 678 ✭✭✭alibab


    No i had communication to say that I needed a separation agreement and application was put on hold until I supplied one . My ex was living in a different county . Anyone can say they are separated and they wanted proof of course . I am no longer on carers thank god and working but the whole application process and waiting took months and was very hard as not allowed work while application was being processed


  • #10
    Squatter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,841 ✭✭✭Squatter


    splinter65 wrote: »

    So you are saying that you were living at a separate address from your estranged spouse, you applied for Carers Allowance, you stated on the application form that you were separated and you didn’t supply evidence of his or her income, and then you were refused Carers ....

    I've omitted the last few words of your question. But in my experience, that would be the norm.

    Sometimes the DSP will accept an affidavit, but more often they don't. Far too many chancers in Ireland these days, I reckon.


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