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Carers caught in benefits chaos - Burstow
February 28, 2003 3:15 PM
Carers caught in benefits chaos - Burstow
Local MP Paul Burstow has criticised how the Sutton Jobcentre Plus is failing those caring for the sick and elderly after it emerged that staff are wrongly advising claimants on what benefits they are entitled to.
Mr Burstow highlighted the case of local carer Susan Saunders who had moved down from her home in the West Midlands to care for her elderly mother who is recovering from stroke, and her father who has recently undergone surgery. Mrs Saunders was repeatedly given incorrect information from staff at the local Jobcentre Plus office.
Despite numerous visits staff incorrectly told Mrs Saunders that she was unable to claim either Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) or Income Support, despite the fact that she was eligible for both. In addition to this, staff suggested that as well as caring for her mother who is recovering from a stroke, Mrs Saunders had to be available for work between 11PM and 5AM.
Mr Burstow raised Mrs Saunders plight with the Work and Pensions Minister, Maria Eagle MP. As a result of her investigation the Minister wrote to Mrs Saunders to apologise and said to Paul Burstow "Clearly on this occasion Jobcentre Plus failed to provide Mrs Saunders with the standard of service she has a right to expect." Following this investigation, staff in the Sutton, Mitcham, Wimbledon and Croydon areas are to receive training to make them more aware of the benefits carers are entitled to.
Mr Burstow said:-
"This case shows that the benefits system is not only failing those in need of care, but is also failing those people providing the care. It calls into question whether staff are receiving the right training to deal sensitively with people and to ensure that the public are getting the benefits they are entitled to."
"Jobcentre staff must be fully informed of all the facts otherwise many other people could be left without the benefits they are entitled to. Staff had misinterpreted and misapplied rules on Invalid Care Allowance and Income Support leading to hardship and injustice. Ministers must ensure that as much is done as is possible to prevent this happening in the future."
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Mrs Saunders can be contacted on 0208 644 1696
Attendance Allowance (AA)
Attendance Allowance is paid to those
•who need help looking after themselves
•who become ill or disabled on or after their 65th birthday, or are claiming on or after their 65th birthday
In addition to this,
•AA is not affected by savings.
•AA is not usually affected by other money you have coming in.
•AA is usually ignored as income for working out Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance
Invalid Care Allowance (ICA)
Invalid Care Allowance is paid to those
•paid to full time carers
To claim ICA, a claimant needs to fit the following criteria:
•be aged 16 or over
•spending at least 35 hours or over per week who is looking after someone who is in receipt of, or waiting to hear about a claim for one of the following benefits:
•Attendance Allowance
•Disability Living Allowance
•Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Constant Attendance Allowance
War Pensions Constant Attendance Allowance
Income Support (IS)
Benefit for those that:
Under 60 and on a low income
•Not working, or working on average of less than 16 hours a week.
Criteria shown above shows that as Mrs Saunders' mother was applying for Attendance Allowance, and Mrs Saunders was acting as her full time carer, Mrs Saunders was eligible for receipt of Invalid Care Allowance.
In addition to this, it is unnecessary for a person caring for someone who receives AA to have claimed ICA before a claim for IS can be considered.
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