View Full Version : Question....Care assistance
In the UK......Do people get paid for looking after another person?....e.g. Spouse, Parent, child who perhaps mays be ill or incapacitated.
lindsaymcc
07-Dec-10, 21:22
You can claim Carers Allowance, but it is bloomin hard to get! I was 24hr carer for my hubby a few years back when he was really bad, and i didnt qualify!
In the UK......Do people get paid for looking after another person?....e.g. Spouse, Parent, child who perhaps mays be ill or incapacitated.Yes you can get it when my daughter was little she was diagnosed with jca and i got the middle rate of carers allowance it might be all changed now.
Yes i get care allowance for my son
i also get carers allowance for Ben.. but wow.. i didnt realize how much i actually did for Ben until i filled in the forms.. and it took myself, and a couple other people to fill the forms in!
The forms can be a nightmare:eek:
your telling me!
i had the head teacher at ceyac helping me, my mate who also is my childminder, the speech and language teacher, and im sure a couple other teachers that worked with ben helping to fill in the forms! i do remember getting a giggle filling in the forms as the HeadTeacher asked me how i slept? at that time Ben was like a new born with sleep paterns .. up every three hours or so crying and needing attention.. and that was at age 5!! but i was use to it.. and it was an everyday thing!
if you need help there are lots of people that can help you fill out the forms.. usually the people that are working with you with the individual you are caring for as they know the situation and can often point out things that you dont think about.
just remember to put in EVERYTHING you do.. no matter how small it is...
one of the big things that i didnt even think about was ben needing help eating..
i thought.. no theres nothing wrong with him eating.. he can do that!
didnt even think about having to sit with him, keep him in the seat, often coax him into eating, making sure the food mostly went into him and not the floor, walls, ceiling, and me that it often did! things like toilet help, still wiping bums and assisting in the toilet. brushing teeth, bathing, dressing, watching every thing that he does, as he has no sense of danger.
i found that the easiest way for me to fill out the forms was to take a piece of paper and write out every thing i did from the time i woke up to the time i went to bed.. and fingers crossed got a couple hours sleep! and the main thing! no detail is too small!!
Yep that sounds about right, and if you miss some details or word it wrong its declined!
I think it is very hard to get. I cared for "himself" for his last 9 months till he died 3 years ago and got no help at all. No help for his funeral either. It's a strange system.
The reason I asked was that I didn't believe that it happened. That is not to mean I criticize those who get it, but when Fran says it is a 'strange system' I don't understand that either.
Here we have no, or very little assistance for such things...people look after people as was done in the olde days.....
You are a very fortunate people! I didn't think people got paid for looking after their own family.
Aaldtimer
08-Dec-10, 04:44
Sandy, it's not a case of people being paid to look after their own family! It's a case of people being compensated for not being able to earn a wage to look after themselves. It's not an easy process to go through to qualify either!:confused
Sandy, it's not a case of people being paid to look after their own family! It's a case of people being compensated for not being able to earn a wage to look after themselves. It's not an easy process to go through to qualify either!:confused
Thank you Aaldtimer, i would love to go to work , have a social life, and not feel shattered most of the time, its not just a case of being paid to look after my son, it would have cost the goverment a lot more to put him in care for the last 11 years. Infact a job would be less hours and easier;)
It's not a lot of money either. Not like earning a living wage. Carers are often amongst the poorest in society and the most isolated.
I think it is very hard to get. I cared for "himself" for his last 9 months till he died 3 years ago and got no help at all. No help for his funeral either. It's a strange system.Im sorry to hear that fran thats awful as it must have been hard for you.
Poor system, you can spend years looking after someone and learning all the skills required in lifting, bathing, feeding, toileting, bedding, cleaning, you do it 24x7 which is longer than most carers who work at it for a living.
If the family member passes away you have all that skill and no qualification although you probably know more than the qualified carers.
Family carers should be more recocnised and given the training and qualifications that they deserve to continue earning after family care should they wish to as this maybe the only skill they have perfected.
lisagrace
14-Jan-12, 00:37
My understanding of 'the system' is that if a person qualifies for DLA (at the higher rate) then they have been assessed as needing a certain amount of care (35 hours) and they would then assume that the person claiming carers' allowance would be delivering this level of care and it is actually a very straight forward application. The difficulties arise when a person is over 65 as they do not qualify for DLA, someone is receiving the middle rate of DLA (and therefore not assessed as requiring more than 35 hours care per week) or it is a child when different rules about parental responsibility etc. apply although a parent should be able to claim tax credits.
I have never heard of anyone receiving help towards funeral arrangements
Sgitheanach
14-Jan-12, 03:53
If someone gets Dla at the middle or higher rate care then someone can claim carers allowance and still earn about £100 per week or if you don't work you can claim income support as well as carers the rate for carers is £55.55 per week and about £36 per week income support on top of carers as you are unable To work due to caring for someone
If someone in receipt of income support or certain other benefits dies their estate can receive a payment of £2000 towards funeral costs
The reason I asked was that I didn't believe that it happened. That is not to mean I criticize those who get it, but when Fran says it is a 'strange system' I don't understand that either.
Here we have no, or very little assistance for such things...people look after people as was done in the olde days.....
You are a very fortunate people! I didn't think people got paid for looking after their own family.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/sb16-a-guide-to-the-social/funeral-payments/
lisagrace
14-Jan-12, 12:42
[QUOTE=Torvaig;920168]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/sb16-a-guide-to-the-social/funeral-payments/[/QUOTE
This is a very interesting link although if you think about it, they have been careful to exclude most older people (except those with guaranteed pension credits) as someone over 65 and in receipt of pension wouldn't be able to claim most of the benefits mentioned
Crackeday
14-Jan-12, 16:19
I dont think carers get enough, Not the genuine ones anyway. (there are those that milk the system :( )
If you take carers allowance against the cost of care, i.e approx £300 a week for a care home, the government is better off paying carers, but i still think they should get more and probably would if it wasnt abused by the few who spoil it for the majority.
I dont think carers get enough, Not the genuine ones anyway. (there are those that milk the system :( )
If you take carers allowance against the cost of care, i.e approx £300 a week for a care home, the government is better off paying carers, but i still think they should get more and probably would if it wasnt abused by the few who spoil it for the majority.
I think you will find that the Cost of Care in a Nursing Home is far higher than £300 a week. 10 Years ago it was costing an average of £380 a week so what the cost muct be now, mmmmm I dont think you would get any change out of £600 or even more.
I do agree though that carers do not get enough for what they do.
Getting Carers Allowance is difficult enough, even if caree is on high rate DLA. However it stops when the carer reaches retirement age, but the amount of care required for the caree doesn`t change or becomes more with old age.
The funeral cost claim is a minefield too. A person who died a couple of years ago had four children, only one of whom worked. Despite the other three being on benefit the entire funeral had to be paid by the working sibling as the other three did not qualify for help with funeral costs. They even enquired if there was a "rich relative" who could pay the funeral. Luckily the undertaken concerned (down south) was a family friend and arranged a payment plan without interest, but it just goes to show nothing is a foregone conclusion where the benefits system is concerned.
Sgitheanach
14-Jan-12, 18:54
To get middle rate care component on dla means that a minimum of 35 hours of care per week is needed so anyone applying for carers allowance for that person automatically gets it if they are earning less than £100 per week .I just finished being a carer for a relative and have just sorted out a carer for my brother who gets DLA at middle rate care and lower rate mobility and the carers application was simple as was the income support claim . My brothers carer got both sorted within 14days . I agree that some people claim carers when they shouldn't but it is the same with all benefits most of the time it is those who need them the most that get messed around by the dwp .
I'm trying to work my way through the above posts. Surely anyone can get state help if they are unable to look after themselves and are not in hospital?
I also think that most people would have life insurance these days especially the bread winner as obviously their income keeps the household running. It is sad to think that anyone has to borrow funds to care for or bury a loved one; must be a nightmare.
When you think of all the people without a conscience who live on funds from the state by lying and hiding their financial incomes, it is sad that others have to scrape around to do what is necessary. What a totally imbalanced way of governing.
The scroungers and liars spoil the whole ethos of the welfare state and those who qualify for help are miscalled and disbelieved because of those who steal from the state. Many who are honest but are on state benefits are branded along with the thieves.
I suppose there is no point in appealing to the better nature of these people......it doesn't exist.
Thank god for caring families or friends who are willing to help. It is surely time in this day and age that no-one is put through such a stressful time wondering where the money will come from for their loved ones care etc.
Well done to those people.
I'm trying to work my way through the above posts. Surely anyone can get state help if they are unable to look after themselves and are not in hospital?
I also think that most people would have life insurance these days especially the bread winner as obviously their income keeps the household running. It is sad to think that anyone has to borrow funds to care for or bury a loved one; must be a nightmare.
When you think of all the people without a conscience who live on funds from the state by lying and hiding their financial incomes, it is sad that others have to scrape around to do what is necessary. What a totally imbalanced way of governing.
The scroungers and liars spoil the whole ethos of the welfare state and those who qualify for help are miscalled and disbelieved because of those who steal from the state. Many who are honest but are on state benefits are branded along with the thieves.
I suppose there is no point in appealing to the better nature of these people......it doesn't exist.
Thank god for caring families or friends who are willing to help. It is surely time in this day and age that no-one is put through such a stressful time wondering where the money will come from for their loved ones care etc.
Well done to those people.
How true Torvaig, there again one should look after their meagre finances to make sure of a decent burial without being a burden to the family. Its terrible that everyone wants money to look after their aged relations and the attention deficit disorder kiddy syndrome which to appears to be epidemic in this society.There are lots of children needing 24hr attention and caring a very difficult situation and should be getting help from the state
Yes one should get help with the elderly if they have disabilities also children's carers should get help but what I object to is the government money that is squandered on 16 year old full time mummies living in their own council houses, all with the latest Blackberry phones where are their mummies?
Caring appears to be a thing of the past but there again there are a lot of people who do not lie and scrounge so it is a shame for them all to get tarnished with the same brush.
Sgitheanach
18-Jan-12, 21:36
The scroungers and liars spoil the whole ethos of the welfare state and those who qualify for help are miscalled and disbelieved because of those who steal from the state. Many who are honest but are on state benefits are branded along with the thieves. When you are on benefit s people just assume you are a scrounger
lisagrace
18-Jan-12, 22:07
How true Torvaig, there again one should look after their meagre finances to make sure of a decent burial without being a burden to the family. Its terrible that everyone wants money to look after their aged relations and the attention deficit disorder kiddy syndrome which to appears to be epidemic in this society.There are lots of children needing 24hr attention and caring a very difficult situation and should be getting help from the state
Yes one should get help with the elderly if they have disabilities also children's carers should get help but what I object to is the government money that is squandered on 16 year old full time mummies living in their own council houses, all with the latest Blackberry phones where are their mummies?
Caring appears to be a thing of the past but there again there are a lot of people who do not lie and scrounge so it is a shame for them all to get tarnished with the same brush.
I'm not being rude about your post at all so please don't take offence but you make quite a lot of contradictions. I think because people need money to survive does not mean they are not caring towards their relative and I think someone earlier compared it to compensation for not being able to work. I have recently given up my job where i was earing about £1200 a month because I couldn't cope with the stress of looking after my father as well as my children and having a job. I don't feel bad for claiming this money at all as I have had a well paid job (and therefore paid a lot of tax) for over 10 years. I also don't think people should be judging who is deserving of benefits as this is what the claim process is for. As for 'attention defecit disorder kiddy syndrome' are you referring to autism or ADHD?? these are very real disorders and i do think you are being very disrespectful about this and obviously have no experience of children with disorders or an understanding of what it must be like for their parents. Anyway didn't mean to get carried away as you have some valid points
When you are on benefit s people just assume you are a scrounger
i your right there,, skye, no mention of all the other benefits people receive in the uk and caithness ,,
how about being benefited for putting solar panels on your private home = state benefit, private property
how about being benefited for having a cleaner engined vehicle = state benefit, private vehicle
how about being benefited for getting your windows replaced, house insulated, local area grants yada yada,building grants etc etc etc = state benefit, private property
how about being benefited in the form of tax credits because your employer wont pay you enough to live on,= state benefit,:o) ordinary peeps need it.
windymills ill no even go there.
the bottom line is every grant,subsidy,quangos, is a state benefit,, and when yee hear some of the ogers on here about broo scroungers, they have some nerve, they want tae have a look at what state benefits they get,, while owning homes and propertys,how many on here got a grant to build their homes or upgrade them etc,and have more than enough monies to forego these benefits,, apart from the people who really need it the low paid, etc,
how many peeps got a free education,universty education = state benefit
i could go on forever,,
it cost about £800 a week for local authority to pay for someone in these homes, and when yee see some oh eh stories on eh news about care homes,, scary stuff. none local yet, thank god,
and the same local authority or goverment body will only pay a relative a small percentage of that sum for doing the same job, the whole system is squiffy to say the least ,, where the better off in society ,through hard work etc, im one of those,get more benefits in kind than the peeps who really need it,
but yet they will pay me more for putting up a certain number of solar panels in a year than most single people on the broo get or peeps who look after their relatives , who are saving the state massive amounts of money,,every year,
its a crazy system where them at the bottom of the heap get all the blame for everything.and us in a middle of eh heap pay for everything and get benefits in kind, an them at eh top oh eh heap pretend to pay for everything and get offshore bank accounts and tax accountants we can only dream off ,just in case. lol:cool:
i the Uk is some country to say the least.
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