I am a fulltime carer of two boys both whom are on high DLA I was wondering how benefits are effected if you as the carer become ill and go on to incapacity benefit which I have due to my own longterm health problems. I am entitled to carers allowance but not by payment now that I am in receipt of incapacity benefit.
I dont understand why I cant recieve payment even though I care all the time.
Has anyone experienced similar situation just interested to no and understand the financial system.

Hello Karen,
Just so i can offer the best advise in these circumstances are you living as a part of a family unit i.eHusband or live in partner as there are some little snipets of information that may help.

My husband is on incapacity benefit. I was getting carer's allowance for my son till recently. I am now a student so not entitled. My husband has put in the application for carer's allowance. Things still have not been sorted properly and this has been ongoing a few months now.
But as far as I can gather, the money you get in carers allowance comes off the incapacity benefit. So I don't think you are that much better off.
We have a lovely lady from welfare rights who helps out with all the form filling like the DLA forms, incapacity benefit etc. The service we have recieved has been invaluable over the years as she is able to look at us as a family unit and advise accordingly.
Do they have this kind of service where you are?

Dawn sort of hit what i was looking to say there.
If your partner circumstances allow he could claim the carers allowance and then you could claim the incapacity benefit.
Whereas if this is not possible the carers allowance you would get would then be taken away from the incapacity benefit.
The problem which may arise from claiming the carers and the incapacity together on your own would possibly be the DWP would possibly say your incapacity must not be that bad if you can care for your child.
Even though we as parents no we struggle on and will put outselves through pain just to ensure our children get what they need and who wouldnt,yet the DWP dont see this.

Hi dawn, I myself get Dla because of my ill health, as does my son. I was advised to claim DLA from the benefits agency themselves, which I did. As I receive severe disablement allowance in my income support, I do not actually get CA, but a carers premium in my Income Support. I am not sure if that would apply to incapacity benefit. I was not sure about claiming carers allowance, because I am severely disabled too,but the adviser was lovely, and told me that just because I am disabled, does not mean that I cannot provide care for my child, but to be honest, I think it is all down to the indivdual advisers!