{"id":44310,"date":"2023-12-18T11:19:04","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T11:19:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/histarmar.net\/?p=44310"},"modified":"2023-12-18T11:19:04","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T11:19:04","slug":"dwps-carers-allowance-payment-can-affect-other-benefits-how-to-check-yours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/histarmar.net\/world-news\/dwps-carers-allowance-payment-can-affect-other-benefits-how-to-check-yours\/","title":{"rendered":"DWP’s Carer’s Allowance payment ‘can affect’ other benefits – how to check yours"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Carer\u2019s Allowance\u00a0is a benefit distributed by the DWP and is worth up to \u00a33,991 a year, providing significant support during a time of high costs.<\/p>\n

To be eligible, claimants must be 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who receives a certain disability benefit.<\/p>\n

However, claiming Carer\u2019s Allowance may impact eligibility for other benefits for both the claimant and the person being cared for, making it key to check before applying.<\/p>\n

How can Carer\u2019s Allowance impact other benefits for the claimant?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A statement on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website reads: \u201cCarer\u2019s Allowance can affect the other benefits that both you and the person you care for get.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the claimant, their total benefit payments will usually either go up or stay the same.<\/p>\n

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Claiming also won\u2019t count towards the benefit cap, which is the limit on the total amount of benefits a person can receive.<\/p>\n

However, claimants who are also in receipt of Universal Credit (UC) may see their UC rates reduced by an equal amount to the person\u2019s Carer\u2019s Allowance payment.<\/p>\n

But, people who care for someone receiving a disability-related benefit may be eligible for an additional amount of Universal Credit, regardless of whether they receive Carer\u2019s Allowance. This makes it essential to report any changes through their Universal Credit account.<\/p>\n

Claiming Carer\u2019s Allowance could also result in additional National Insurance credits, such as Class 1, which can qualify them for other benefits as well as the state pension.<\/p>\n

The DWP does emphasise that individuals receiving Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit must inform HMRC about their receipt of Carer\u2019s Allowance, as it constitutes a taxable benefit.<\/p>\n

While the Carer\u2019s Allowance benefit is not taxed at the point it\u2019s received, it will contribute to other sources of taxable income the person receives, meaning if total income exceeds the current personal allowance of \u00a312,570 a year, tax will have to be paid.<\/p>\n

Carer\u2019s Allowance claimants who have reached state pension age (currently 66) and receive Pension Credit will see an increase in their payments if eligible.<\/p>\n

How will Carer\u2019s Allowance impact the person being cared for?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If a person starts claiming Carer\u2019s Allowance, the person being cared for will typically stop receiving the severe disability premium paid with their benefits, as well as the extra amount for severe disability paid with Pension Credit.<\/p>\n

The person being cared for may also stop getting reduced Council Tax.<\/p>\n

People can check if the severe disability payment will stop by contacting whoever pays this benefit, which is usually Jobcentre Plus, their local council, the Pension Service Helpline or Universal Credit.<\/p>\n

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