THOSE eligible for carer’s allowance must check their benefits now to avoid missing out on £900 cost of living support.
Carer’s allowance claimants do not directly qualify for the cost of living payment.
Those on carer’s allowance could get the cost of living payment
But if you qualify for means-tested benefits, which are awarded based on a person’s financial situation, then you might be able to get the cost of living payment.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is therefore encouraging carer’s allowance claimants to check if they’re eligible for other benefits as it could mean they get the extra £900.
In a letter to Labour MP Steve McCabe, Tom Pursglove, minister for the Department for the DWP urged unpaid carers to check their eligibility.
He said: “Depending on personal circumstances, carers may be eligible for means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
“Means-tested benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities through the carer element and the additional amount for carers respectively.”
More than eight million people will get the cost of living help directly into their bank accounts.
And the £900 in free cash will be paid over the financial year in three instalments.
To be eligible for the payment, households will need to be claiming at least one of the following:
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Income support
- Pension credit
- Tax credits (child tax credit and working tax credit)
- Universal Credit
For the previous payments, you had to be entitled or later found to be entitled to one of these benefits by a certain date.
This certain date will be announced nearer the time, the DWP said.
People receiving tax credits only will be paid the cash by HMRC.
Check what benefits you could be entitled to
Millions are entitled to benefits that they aren’t claiming and which can make them eligible for the £900 cost of living payment.
The quickest way to see what benefits you may be able to claim is to use one of the three benefit calculators recommended by Gov.UK.
Each one is free to use. They are:
- Turn2us
- Policy in Practice
- EntitledTo
Before using the tools, make sure you have key financial information to hand, such as bank and savings statements, and information on pensions and existing benefits.
If you live with a partner or family, get their basic financial information together too as this could affect your claim.
For each of these, you’ll be asked information about your circumstances, such as your current employment and income.
You’ll also need to give information about yourself, including your age and who you live with.
You can then use the contact information on Gov.UK to get the ball rolling and apply for what you’re owed.
Of course, the tools only provide an indicator of what benefits you can claim – and usually don’t include means-tested benefits, so you may be entitled to even more.
Can I get benefits backdated?
It is possible to get some benefits backdated if you found out you’ve missed out on claiming for them.
But it depends on which benefit you’re making a claim for, as different benefits have different rules for back payment.
For example, new claims for Universal Credit, income support and housing benefit can be backdated for a maximum of one month.
You can get child benefit, pension credit backdated for up to three months.
But in most cases, you’ll have to provide evidence to show a good reason why you were not able to make a claim earlier.
This could be because:
- You have a disability
- You’re unwell
- The online claims system was down
- You’re making a new claim after breaking up with your partner
You can apply to backdate your benefit payments when applying for the benefit.
What is carer’s allowance?
Carer’s allowance is a UK benefit designed to help people who have caring responsibilities for more than 35 hours each week.
Those eligible get £69.70 a week paid directly into bank accounts.
You could be eligible for Carer’s Allowance if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week.
To qualify, the person you care for must already get one of these benefits:
- Personal independence payment (PIP) – daily living component
- Disability living allowance – the middle or highest care rate
- Attendance allowance
- Constant attendance allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Constant attendance allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a war disablement pension
- Armed forces independence payment
You don’t have to be related to the person or live with them to apply.
But if you share caring responsibilities with someone else, only one of you can claim.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
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