Carers Allowance, Joint Income Support?

My wife has severe, long term disability and claims Incapacity Benefit and lower rate DLA.

Our little boy has Autism and was awarded DLA Higher Rate Care and Lower Rate Mobility; because of his higher rate care, one of us would be entitled to claim Carer's Allowance.

The new ESA testing is so worrying. I'm concerned that my wife might attempt suicide if she is put through the stress of a medical; she has a history of this and although she is on five different antipsychotic medications, anti depressants and tranquilizers she is far from stable. She would not cope with the pressure of a ATOS medical, possible appeals, nor would she cope with any form of work related activity. In the past she has been exempt from PCA for many years due to the extent of her disability and poor health but it looks like this may change with the new ESA as it's so much harder to get into the Support Group.

If my wife claimed Carer's Allowance in relation to our son's DLA instead of ESA, would she still be able to put in a joint claim for Income Support (which is what we are claiming at present), or would I not be able to be included in an Income Support claim if it was based on my wife claiming Carer's Allowance rather than ESA? I have googled this and cannot find any information other than something that stated that as of April 2010 a joint Income Support Claim would no longer be possible when one partner is claiming Carer's Allowance.

Just wondering if any of you here claim Carer's Allowance and if so are you entitled to claim Income Support as a couple if there are dependent children in the household. Or would your partner who isn't on Carer's Allowance have to claim ESA or Jobseekers (which would mean that it isn't possible to claim Income Support)? Just wondering if the rules did indeed change in April 2010.

Thanks in advance.
Snow

Thanks for your reply Gordon. No I don't work. I am fulltime carer for my wife and also care for my disabled son. We currently claim Income Support as a couple and my wife gets the sickness premium and has to complete IB50 forms. My wife cannot be left alone. We absolutely dread those forms.

I'm wondering if one of us might be able to claim Carer's Allowance for our disabled son and continue to claim Income Support as a couple on that basis (but not the sickness premium), so that my wife no longer needs to go through the medical tests.

If Carer's Allowance for my little boy (who gets DLA higher rate care for Autism) means that we'll no longer get those stressful IB50 or the future ESA50 forms through the letterbox it would be worth the change from Sickness to Carers. But only if we were still able to claim Income Support as a couple.

Thanks again for your reply.
Snow

Snowbird wrote:

Thanks for your reply Gordon. No I don't work. I am fulltime carer for my wife and also care for my disabled son. We currently claim Income Support as a couple and my wife gets the sickness premium and has to complete IB50 forms. My wife cannot be left alone. We absolutely dread those forms.

I'm wondering if one of us might be able to claim Carer's Allowance for our disabled son and continue to claim Income Support as a couple on that basis (but not the sickness premium), so that my wife no longer needs to go through the medical tests.
.
Snow

You could claim CA for your son. I believe the CA will be offset against your IS, but you would get the enhanced carers premium of £30.05 per week. If you wife gets IB ( in the way of the sickness benefit ) then that would be seen has an overlapping benefit. I don't think she could get IS with the disability premium and CA together.

But ! . Contact Benefits helpine on 0800 882200 and they will give you all the advice and help you need.

I can't answer all your question, but if your wife continues to get DLA, what about her claiming CA as your son's carer and you claiming CA as her carer? It's possible for a couple to both get CA.

Survivor wrote:

I can't answer all your question, but if your wife continues to get DLA, what about her claiming CA as your son's carer and you claiming CA as her carer? It's possible for a couple to both get CA.

A very good idea one thats been done before, that said, I would be worried that there will come a time.... when they will say if you are now able to do the required 35 hours per week looking after somebody ( that you have to say you are doing to get CA) ... why where you claiming IB or ESA or DLA for yourself before ?

I cant see it being long before this way of looking at people is taken. Because its the sort of point of view that will be taken