» Benefits

‘Carer’ benefits facing change

For many people with disabilities and their carers, the idea of some extra financial help will be very appealing. As the UK benefits system can seem daunting, many CdLS people and their carers may not be claiming all they are entitled to.

And with the recent Government pledge of £200 million extra financial support for carers, Foundation members need to make sure they are clued up on the benefits system.

For those in the position of carer the main benefit on offer is the Invalid Care Allowance, which is currently worth a basic £39.95 a week. Carers with dependants may be able to obtain more, but there are several conditions that a carer must meet before anything is paid.

Carers should be looking into their suitability for Invalid Care Allowance (ICA), which will shortly become known as the Carers Allowance. With the government recently pledging an extra £200 million for the financial support of carers, and the ICA extending to cover people over the age of 65, the criteria should be closely examined.

The allowance applies to working age carers who look after a person who is already entitled to disability benefit such as Disability Living Allowance, for at least 35 hours a week.

Overlapping

Despite the recent changes the overlapping benefit rules will still apply, so carers over the age of 65 will not be able to receive both their retirement pension and ICA. These changes are dependent on Government legislation, so will not come into effect until at least 2002.

Away from the carers, Incapacity Benefit, which replaced Sickness and Invalidity Benefit in 1995, provides for those under state pension age that cannot work because of a disability. These can be claimed by completing an SC1 pack from a doctors surgery, hospital or Social Security office, and are assessed by a combination of application forms and an adjudication officer.

When assessing a claim the adjudication officer will look at the claimant’s ability to do their job over 28 weeks, and then look at their abilities to perform other work-related tasks. The rates are split between short-term and long-term incapacity and range from £47.10 to £62.45. In addition to this, extra provision is made to those incapable of working with a partner over the age of 60 or if those with children.

Disadvantaged

Those who are still able to work, but whose earning capacity is reduced by disability are also able to make a claim for a Disability Working Allowance. To qualify for this the applicant must work an average of at least 16 hours a week to show they are disadvantaged sufficiently to impair job-hunting which as before is assessed by an adjudication officer.

Benefits are not just applicable to disabilities that restrict the earning potential of the individual, as many people know, a disability can mean greater costs incurred in every day living, particularly if children are involved.

Disability Living Allowance can be claimed for both adults and children, and is divided between those that need help with personal care, and those who need help getting around. The allowances are tax-free, and are usually assessed in terms of having required help for at least three months, with a likelihood of a further six months care.

Positive news for parents on a low income, with a disabled child under the age of 18, is an increase in the disabled child premium to £30 per week from April 2001. Carer premium has also been increased by £10 a week for carers on income related benefits such as Income Support.

If you think you may be entitled to benefits the best policy is to ask, the first place to try is the Social Security Centre, or failing that your local medical centre.

Both the disabled and their carers are entitled to benefits and should ensure that they receive them.

Reaching Out newsletter
April 2001