John's story
Earlier this summer I visited Dorothy and her son and main carer, John to carry out a combined financial assessment and perform a full benefits check.
John confirmed that he was his mother’s main carer but he was not getting any carers allowance. At my visit I advised John that I would need to carry out a second visit to assist him to claim carers allowance and advised him that he would also be eligible for an income support top up once this allowance had been awarded.
I claimed Carers Allowance on John’s behalf and requested that the Carers Allowance Unit consider the maximum three months backdating. I provided him with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) contact centre telephone number so that he could claim the Income Support top up.
John was really surprised that this was available to him as he had been caring for Dorothy for years and they were scraping by on her income alone. He explained that they had been experiencing financial hardship for many years. I also provided him with advice about the Shrewsbury Furniture Scheme and, upon passing the house one morning, they were arriving with a delivery of a new sofa.
John’s benefits are now through and they consist of £62.10 Carers Allowance and an Income Support top up of £45.60 per week.
John has since said that I have ‘changed their lives’.
When I called him he was very tearful about it all and wanted to send in a compliment. It’s great to be able to advise and help people claim the correct benefits that they are entitled to. Following receipt of the above allowances John has able to buy himself a bed as he has been lying on the floor for years. Since my initial visit, Severnside Housing Support have also been very pro-active and have assisted John and Dorothy in many other ways such as getting them hot running water back into the property.
Compliment sent by John: “Caring, professional, great outcome, faultless service.”
Sarah Norman, Shropshire Council’s Financial Assessments Visiting Officer
For more information on being a carer please follow this link to the carer section of this site.