I assisted a client to do a claim for carers allowance in december, photocopy kept on file and note that it was sent off 4/12. At the time her son for whom she cares had not been awarded DLA but now middle rate care has come through. She said she had not had any decision from carers allowance so I phoned the office to be told no record of the claim being received. If she were to just put in another claim now she would miss out on a couple of weeks benefit.

Is it worth sending the photocopy in and asking for the claim to be considered as if it had been received? What other options does she have?

I would send the photocopy in and ask for CA to be awarded from the date that DLA was awarded. If it is refused you can then request a review in the normal way.

What grounds would you have for a review as the prescribed time limit for claiming CA is three months? I have had similar problems with CA losing forms. In my experience if you can have provide evidence of the first claim they will make an ex-gratia equivalent to the lost CA.