carers allowance

My bro has lost his job and his wife is on carers allowance for autisitic child.My question is,if she went full time at work can he swop over to be the carer?

if his wife worked she would cease as carer. your brother can of course apply to be the carer to get carers allowance and any household benefits. Carers allowance is means tested so the wifes income would be taken into account, if wifes earnings were over certain limits brother wouldnt get any payment. I dont know if you could just swap over, a separate application probably is the way it works, but I know from personal experience that from application it can take 3-6 months to get carers allowance. Carers benefit, if you qualify, is not means tested but based on your PRSI contributions.

If it takes him a long time to get another job it might be the best thing to do i suppose but im not surprised that it would be tied up in red tape.typical of this country.

he could be entitled to carers benefit based on his stamps? this would not be means tested. Check with citizens advice website or office.

cheers elmo