lotty Report post Posted June 7, 2006 I am probably the last to know this but I thought I would mention it anyway. That if your child gets the higher care component in there DLA, that means you get awarded much more child tax credit. They are going to backdate mine as I had no idea about this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justamom Report post Posted June 7, 2006 I had no idea about this either,i am in the process of filling out my child tax credit form should i say on the form that i receive the higher rate r will they check this out themselves?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lotty Report post Posted June 7, 2006 You have to tell them, phone them and tell them how long your child has been getting it, they make back date it, only by 3 months though, they gave me an address to write to to see if i could backdate it further as i told them about my son along time ago. do it now Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lindy-lou Report post Posted June 7, 2006 (edited) it is not just higher rate,we get middle rate care and we get a disabled child premium on child tax credit,which was backdated to the date DLA was awarded,which was 5 months worth. Edited June 7, 2006 by lindy-lou Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kazzen161 Report post Posted June 7, 2006 I had same problem with Income Support - I asked them how getting dla woudl affect my IS and they told me it wouldn't, so I didn't tell them when he did get it. I eventually found out I should have be getting a lot more IS - they said they coudl only backdate it for 3 months. I wrote and complained, and I did get the rest of the money - but not for several years! Karen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flora Report post Posted June 7, 2006 While the subject's on benefits, does anyone know how carers allowance affects the child tax credits? Â I don't claim carers allowance and not sure if I want to as I was thinking that anything you get for carers allowance will be offset by the fact that it's taxable benefit and may affect the CTC? Â Anyone know? Â Lauren Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lindy-lou Report post Posted June 7, 2006 my carers allowance does not affect my child tax at all Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lotty Report post Posted June 7, 2006 While the subject's on benefits, does anyone know how carers allowance affects the child tax credits? Â I don't claim carers allowance and not sure if I want to as I was thinking that anything you get for carers allowance will be offset by the fact that it's taxable benefit and may affect the CTC? Â Anyone know? Â Lauren it hasnt affected mine either Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lil_me Report post Posted June 7, 2006 (edited) Depens carers allowance is taxable and sometimes decreases it, but don't take it all off you  DLA isn't taxable and just get the premiums added  On income support they do count carers allowance as income but you get a premium for it so don't loose it all.  With all benefits you have to inform them yourself of any awards or changes. Edited June 7, 2006 by lil_me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisann Report post Posted June 7, 2006 Hi Yes my Carers allowance effects our tax credits because it is classed as an income and added to my hubby's wage to create a total wage income for our house.We did work it out though and for us the amount they stop us in tax credit is far less then what we gain in Carers. Â Lisa x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brook Report post Posted June 7, 2006 Hi,  you DO have to declare carers allowance to the tax credit, as they class it as income. I learnt this the hard way, I phoned the helpline FOUR times telling them that I recieved carers allowance, the people I spoke to didnt sound that sure to me, so I took their names and kept a note of dates etc.. I then wrote a letter to the tax credits saying that I recieve carers allowance and on four occassions I was told it didn't matter it's not taken into account.  A few months later I went to get my credits out of the bank and it was empty when I finally got to the bottom of it, it turns out they had stopped my money because they found out I recieved carers allowance  Just as well I had alot of proof to fall back on, they found my letter and apologised, and as it was their mistake I didn't have to repay the overpayment.  Brook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bugbug Report post Posted June 8, 2006 Just a thought aswell. If you do claim carers allowance I received a form regarding pension contributions being greater or more beneficial to myself. Not sure of the details but it was beneficial to me in any case as I am not working other than careing for my son & daughter. Sorry can't elaborate on this. Will try to check up on the details. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lotty Report post Posted June 8, 2006 Hi Yes my Carers allowance effects our tax credits because it is classed as an income and added to my hubby's wage to create a total wage income for our house.We did work it out though and for us the amount they stop us in tax credit is far less then what we gain in Carers. Lisa x  we dont have an income so it doesnt affect our tax credits Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lil_me Report post Posted June 8, 2006 (edited) NI contrbutions are paid if receiving carers allowance. Â Carers allowance doesn't effect the 'child tax credit' but the 'working tax credit' if you're on income support it will effect that, they class the carers allowance as an income and deduct it, but then you get a premium on your income support, meaning you receive about ?25 extra (not checked rates for a while) Edited June 8, 2006 by lil_me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flora Report post Posted June 9, 2006 Good grief.... after posting the question on this thread about carers allowance I filled in the online application for it that night... and got it today... the money is already in the bank I'd even forgot about it expecting it to take weeks.... Unbelievable. Â Lauren Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lotty Report post Posted June 9, 2006 last year i was single parent with three kids on income support, i had no income i had carers and the income support i got was 31 pounds a week, with the premium etc, so even though it sounds like you get extra 31 pounds isnt very much. my partner who had moved somewhere else was on 56 pounds a week income support. as a single person without kids Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirstie Report post Posted June 12, 2006 Yeh it's pants really, I mean, carers allowance is classed as income..........how ridiculous. Shows what they think we're worth. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites