carers allowance

Hi Guys!
Quick question; I have had middle rate care component of DLA for a number of years and my wife has earned more than the earnings limit for carers allowance - she is self employed . So we have never claimed it.
However her earnings for last year dropped to an average of approx £70/week she worked it out last week. Would it be thought strange that I haven’t claimed before?
I have read info online and it says you must make a claim within three months of the award of DLA; surely that makes no sense for situations like ours or does it mean that you will only get three months backdated if you don’t claim straightaway but can you claim at a much later date if you fit the criteria.
I find it a bit confusing!
Thanks for any response in advance
Matchseller

matchseller wrote: Hi Guys!
Quick question; I have had middle rate care component of DLA for a number of years and my wife has earned more than the earnings limit for carers allowance - she is self employed . So we have never claimed it.
However her earnings for last year dropped to an average of approx £70/week she worked it out last week. Would it be thought strange that I haven’t claimed before?
I have read info online and it says you must make a claim within three months of the award of DLA; surely that makes no sense for situations like ours or does it mean that you will only get three months backdated if you don’t claim straightaway but can you claim at a much later date if you fit the criteria.
I find it a bit confusing!
Thanks for any response in advance
Matchseller

Hi ms,

There is no reason why you should not make a claim for CA now.

The 3 months is with respect to the maximum period that can be backdated with CA payments.

The earnings limit for someone claiming CA is currently circa £100/Week, going up to circa £102/Week in May 2014.

If they query why your wife has not previously claimed CA, which they shouldn't, you can simply inform them that she was earning above the allowed limit until recently.

On the premise that your wife is not in receipt of any "overlapping" benefits, there should not be a problem.

You should try and claim 3 months back payment.

www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

You can claim on-line from Here

You will probably have to send in wife's wage slips/proof of earnings by post to supplement the on-line application.

The Carers Unit are generally very helpful.

Bro58