Bill McCormack, Manager of Welfare Rights in Dumfries, Scotland, and a welfare advisor for more than eight years, answered questions put to him by members of the Carers & Cared For message board on April 22nd, 2004.

Question:
I have been my husband's full-time carer for almost two years, since he had a terrible road accident which left him a paraplegic. Recently, we decided to separate and my husband is currently trying to find alternative accommodation.

Unfortunately our house has been adapted for his wheelchair and the council have already warned us that as we are joint tenants the house is more likely to be awarded to my husband rather than myself and my two children. My husband is applying for housing benefit for a flat in a nearby town which is wheelchair accessible. Is the council likely to let my husband relinquish the lease into my name only and is he likely to get benefit for another flat?
cl-murerrol

Answer:
There is no reason why the council should not now put the house in your name, or why they will not pay your husband housing benefit for a new home. You should also claim housing benefit for your current home too.

Question:
What income support are my children and I entitled to if my husband and I are living separately? My husband is currently claiming for both of us. He also claims the higher rate of disability benefit. As a single mum getting paid for nine hours a week during the school term, what will I be entitled to?
cl-murerrol

Answer:
You should get about £55 weekly from Income Support - £80 if you have carers' allowance.

It could be that the council will insist that you now claim tax credits for the children if your date of claim is after April. Additional monies coming to you for the children will be paid by tax credits. Any earned income you have will reduce the amount you are due, although the Social Services will ignore the first £20 of your earnings and any child benefit you have, if your claim is after April.

Question:
Is it possible to get help to set up a home? If my husband moves out of our marital home and moves into a flat, is he entitled to a grant to help him furnish it?
cl-murerrol

Answer:
If your husband is receiving Income Support, a community grant should be sought from the DHSS Social Fund. Other options might be to explore local charities who help vulnerable people, such as the homeless. You should also apply for help to your local Social Services anyway as they might be willing to help, even though they do not have to.

Question:
If you claim the highest rate of living allowance and motorbility allowance, are there any other benefits that you are entitled to? I am currently on Income Support and have been told by the Citizens Advice Bureau that there might be another benefit that I am entitled to as a high rate disabled citizen.
momheatem

Answer:
If you are single, live alone and have the highest rate living allowance and no one is claiming a carers' allowance for you, then you should have a minimum of about £134 weekly, not counting disability living allowance. If you have a partner who lives with you then a carers' allowance could be available for them, which would increase your Income Support by £25.55 weekly.

Question:
I have to attend Stoke Mandeville Hospital every now and again for check ups. Am I entitled to help with the cost of travel as I am claiming Income Support?
momheatem

Answer:
Yes. You are entitled to claim back the cost of bus fares, or the cost of a taxi there and back if you are unable to use a bus. You can claim for all the months you have paid already if you can show proof that you attended the hospital. Next time you visit the hospital ask at the reception desk for a copy of your appointments record.

Question:
As a person who is dependent on benefits, what help am I entitled to in terms of optician fees? I understand that a test is free but am I entitled to free spectacles or vouchers?
momheatem

Answer:
You're entitled to vouchers up to the value of a basic pair of spectacles - about £85. Anything over this sum will have to come out of your own pocket.

Question:
Do you think carers generally should be more assertive in calling on family and friends to give them some respite - even for just a couple of hours a week? It's well known that many people struggle on alone with terrible problems because they don't want to bother anyone.
marieuk2000

Answer:
I would advise a carer under stress to apply to their local Social Services for help with respite. This is something social services want to do, as in the long term it is in their interest to help carers.

No one wants to see a carer reach breaking point as the person being cared for will then have to go into hospital or residential care - and Social Services will have to foot the bill.

The danger is that most carers assume that they have to keep going for the sake of the person they are caring for. Unfortunately, the Social Services rarely offer respite until a crisis forces their hand.

I would advise all carers not to be afraid to ask for help at an early stage. It will benefit you and the person you're caring for in the long term.

Question:
If a child has special needs, is a parent on Income Support entitled to claim any extra money for her?
cl-murerrol

Answer:
Only if she is registered as blind, or if she is receiving DLA? If she does not get DLA now then you should claim it.

Question:
What does DLA stand for?
marieuk2000

Answer:
DLA is short for Disability Living Allowance. This has two parts - a care component and a mobility component. Either part can be claimed on its own, or combined with the other component. The care component has a low rate, providing £15.55 a week, a middle rate of £39.35 a week, and a high rate of £58.80. The mobility component has a low rate of £15.55 a week or a high rate of £41.05.

Disability living allowance is paid to anyone under 65 years old who requires special care and supervision. The mobility component is for those with mobility problems who require guidance and supervision outside the house.

Those aged over 65 years who become disabled should claim attendance allowance which provides the same amount of money per week as a middle or high care rate.

Question:
Life can be so unfair and when you're suddenly faced with very difficult circumstances it's so difficult just knowing where to start Do you agree?
cl-mururrel

Answer:
As a carer myself, I understand just how difficult it can be when attempting to claim anything. It is also sad that no one has a duty to tell you what to claim for, or what you are missing out on if you don't claim.

The worst culprits are the housing benefit departments who have all your income details and should easily be able to see what is required and, more importantly, be able to tell you what you are missing out on.

The latest large and very expensive advertising campaign for pension credit, aimed at pensioners obviously, has failed to identify more than 400,000 new claims. While many pensioners have received the additional help to which they were entitled, I have heard about hundreds of local pensioners who have applied and got nothing as the DHSS failed to tell them that this new pension credit benfit was means tested.

Question
What can I expect when I attend a back-to-work focused interview as part of the process of claiming Income Support for myself? I am concerned about the type of questions they will ask and whether they will force me to return to work full-time given my circumstances.
cl-murerrol

Answer
Please do not worry about the interview. The sole purpose is to inform you of all the options available to you if you wish to increase your hours at work, and where you stand with tax credits.

You should also be told about training schemes that are available to you. Aside from attending nothing else is compulsory on your part.

Question:
I know that you are entitled to claim a carers' allowance if you care for someone for 35 hours per week. Does it matter whether the person I care for lives at the same address or not?
cl-murerrol

Answer:
Certainly not - the only condition is that you are caring for someone for 35 hours per week.

Question:
What legislation do you have in place in Scotland to help carers? A Bill is currently working its way through the UK Parliament which, if passed, will give carers greater access to higher education and training.
marieuk2000

Answer:
The Carers Recognition and Services Act 1995 and, more recently, the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 place a duty on Social Services to assess the needs of carers and to assist them to continue to provide care if that is their wish.

However, unfortunately, neither act extends a duty on the Social Services to provide specific services - not yet anyway.

If you would like to discuss issues related to caring for another person, why not join in the lively discussions on the Carers&Cared For message board?