just a quick question: does any one know if you can claim carers allowance & ESA (incapacity) at the same time.
i'm still having a complete nightmare with tax credits (long story) but i'm hoping to either prove a point or highlight a major flaw in their computing system

(09-22-2010 07:30 AM)mcgraw Wrote:  just a quick question: does any one know if you can claim carers allowance & ESA (incapacity) at the same time.
i'm still having a complete nightmare with tax credits (long story) but i'm hoping to either prove a point or highlight a major flaw in their computing system

after the lack of response to my above post (it's ok no worries) i contacted carers allowance to ask them. in case anyone was interested there is a underlying entitlement to carers allowance if someone recieves ESA (incapacity). to briefly explain tax credits sent me out a couple statements which had that i was working or had stopped working but recieving a social security benefit (carers allowance) but they over paid me as they had on their computer i was incapaciated (i never at any point told them i was incapaciated). i had no way of checking this and therefore informing them that their information was incorrect as.my statements said one thing but their computer had another. my main arguement being that how can i be working but incapaciated at the same time. also when i stopped working (maternity leave finshed, i was lucky and on full pay during my maternity leave) i did advise i was on carers and not ESA. as i said perviously long story.

i did have an interesting converstaion though with the advisor from carers who said that you qualify for carers for doing simply things like making a cup of tea and chatting to the person. as long as its for 35hours a week. i found it interesting that for carers the citeria in a sense is so relaxed but things like DLA is so difficult.

i seen the question on facebook today regarding DLA and it made me think about how the form could be better. it is such a horrible form but i suppose i can understand why they ask what they do. i think though it should also take into account things like the amount of appointments and specialists your child sees. as a carer i would find it impossible to work for the amount of time i need off for just getting to appointments. that's also if caleb's well. the amount of times i have to cancel appointments on the day as he's not well. me and a friend of mine thought it would be good if they could put a bit on the end where you get to write how wonderful your child is and all the things they've achieved. just loads of positive things, which one DLA recieved it went into the bin and had no bearing on your claim

anyway hope i didn't offend anyone with my comments