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Carers allowance

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  • 13-12-2011 12:49am
    #1
    loadz
    Registered Users Posts: 106 ✭✭


    Can anyone let me know if your mortgage payments are counted in when they are doing a means test for Carers allowance. We have a child with autism and my wife takes a lot of time off work to look after him. She works part time and takes the school holidays off too to look after him. I think we may be entitled to either carers allowance or carers benefit but we feel we may fail the means test but we may pass if your outgoings are taken into account. Any advise please.


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    #2
    merchant07
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭merchant07


    No your outgoings are counted for Carers allowance at all I am afraid.I am carers allowance for my son who has autism.


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    #3
    Scruffles
    Registered Users Posts: 955 ✭✭✭Scruffles


    woud recommend looking into respite care or outreach care with an autistic specialist support service.
    ireland is more difficult to find this sort of service in comparison to england but it woud be worth speaking to social services and irish autism organisations to find out more.
    outreach woud be the best one to look into as there woud be staff supporting him from home.
    am living in a residential centre over here in england for people on the severe and profound spectrums of autism and the other unit here is for kids/teens-many of them are on respite,they get to do a lot every day and all of them love the place and staff.
    the kids in outreach services get to do a lot more and have individual attention unlike in respite because theyre both funded differently.

    it woud make it easier on the family if did get the funding,and itd be more helpful than simply getting a carers allowance especialy for things like school summer holidays.


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    #4
    loadz
    Registered Users Posts: 106 ✭✭loadz


    Thanks for the reply but I know we would be entitled to either carers benefit or carers alloance as my wife has had to give up a full time job and go part time to look after our son so that was why I was asking if the means test covered your outgoings like your mortgage. The carers benefit seems to end after two years whilst the allowance seems to be permanent. Most of our wages goes on outgoings so if they are included in our means test then we would surely qualify. Any advise would be appreciated.


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    #5
    merchant07
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭merchant07


    loadz wrote: »
    Thanks for the reply but I know we would be entitled to either carers benefit or carers alloance as my wife has had to give up a full time job and go part time to look after our son so that was why I was asking if the means test covered your outgoings like your mortgage. The carers benefit seems to end after two years whilst the allowance seems to be permanent. Most of our wages goes on outgoings so if they are included in our means test then we would surely qualify. Any advise would be appreciated.
    Hi there
    None of your outgoings are NOT counted in applying for carers allowance or carers benefit at all I am afraid.
    Outgoings are tajken into regard for applications for the Medical Card/GP card .
    If your son is under 16 and requires ongoing care and attention and you wish to apply for Carer's Allowance you must be in receipt first of Domicillary Care Allowance often referred to as DCA . This is a monthly payment of about E309 paid to parents of a child who requires above the normal care for a child of their age etc .Alot of the applications for this allowance are being refused on first application at the moment if this happens you have 3 weeks to appeal.DCA is NOT means tested.
    You have to be in reciept of DCA before you can apply for Carers Allowance for a minor under 16 yrs .If you get DCA and then apply for Carers Allowance you dont need to resubmit all the medical information you submitted for DCA
    You are entitled to Carers allowance based on a means test and as long as the person requires care

    For Carers Benefit you dont need to be in receipt of DCA and it is for a period of 2 yrs only

    For either carers allowance/DCA/carers benefit if you recieve one of these benefits you are entitled to a once a year Respite grant issude in June to the amount of E1700 per person cared for.


    Online booklet http://http://www.citizensinformationboard.ie/publications/entitlements/downloads/children_with_disabilities.pdf

    Is a must read for any family who has a child with a disability /long term illness

    From revenue you are entitled to a tax credit called incapcitated child tax credit it is a tax free allowance of about E3,300 per year.If you are apllying for this try to do it online as lots of people are being refused it


    Unfortunately your day to day expenses Bills,mortagage ,life insurance etc are not deducted from you means of income .
    We have 4 kids I am on Carers allowance for one of my children .
    Your means is your total source of income if your wife inst working this would be your wages ,saviings and any other source of income

    Carers allowance applications take at least four months at the moment some taking longer.Also for either appllications an officer from Dept of Social welfare may visit your home to assess your application .
    Because the child is in residence with you your wife may be entitled to the househole benefits package but I know there was talk of some changes to this with Budget 2012

    all forms are on www.welfare.ie

    If you have access to facebook take a look at http://www.facebook.com/SpecialNeedsParentsAssociation

    If I can be of any further help dont hesitate to email me


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