PIP - UC - Carers

JohnLFC

Hi

I was awarded PIP a few weeks ago at a tribunal, I am self-employed and receive UC, I receive carers allowance for my mum but a few weeks ago the carers allowance stopped as it did around the same time last year when they requested self-employment income, I had not received any forms so far and phoned in today and they confirmed it is suspended but advised there is nothing noted why it has been suspended

any views on this?

poppy123456

We can't tell you why it's been suspended.

As you're claiming UC does this include the carers element? When claiming UC there's no fiancial gain to claiming carers allowance at the same time because it's just deducted in full from any UC entitlement. You don't need to claim this to be entitled to carers element of UC. Also with carers allowance there's a maximum earnings limit per week but with carers element there's no earnings limit.

JohnLFC

poppy123456 said:

We can't tell you why it's been suspended.

As you're claiming UC does this include the carers element? When claiming UC there's no fiancial gain to claiming carers allowance at the same time because it's just deducted in full from any UC entitlement. You don't need to claim this to be entitled to carers element of UC. Also with carers allowance there's a maximum earnings limit per week but with carers element there's no earnings limit.

When I first started my claim for UC they advised me to claim carers allowance, but do see it being deducted from my UC each month.

When I had my PIP tribunal by phone there was a member of staff from the DWP who said "he claims carers how can he claim carers but also seek to claim PIP" but the judge did advise both can be claimed.

During the call to carers allowance today the lady on the phone said she will send it off to the relevant team and someone will be in touch in due course but have no time frames on this.

poppy123456

Does your UC include the carers element? if not then it should.

JohnLFC

On my UC award, it shows this because I receive carers

As this is an average of other benefits that you're continuing to claim

Carer's Allowance minus‑ £302.03

poppy123456

That will be the carers allowance deduction. If you're not claiming the LCWRA element for yourself it should also show carers element. Which was £168.81/month before the April increase.

JohnLFC

I do not believe i get LCWRA

Just feeling quite stressed with it all and having no information from carers allowance why it has been suspended

poppy123456

JohnLFC said:

I do not believe i get LCWRA

Please look at your statements and it will tell you exactly what elements are included. If it doesn't include the LCWRA element then does it include carers element? I can't help unless you answer my questions.

JohnLFC

Here is what I have on UC

What you're entitled to

Standard allowance

£334.91

You get a standard amount each month. You said you're single

Carer

£168.81

You said that you are caring for someone.

Total entitlement before deductions

£503.72

What we take off (deductions)

Take-home pay

Need help understanding take-home pay?

Take-home pay is what's left after tax, National Insurance and any pension contributions have been deducted.

Earnings from self-employment

£962.47

Previous losses from self-employment

-£2,407.72

The amount we'll use to work out your Universal Credit is £0.00

A loss of -£1,445.25 will be used to calculate your self-employed earnings for your next payment.

Your total take-home pay for this period is£0.00

Every £1.00 you earn in take-home pay reduces your Universal Credit by 55 pence.

Other benefits

We take money off your payment

As this is an average of other benefits that you're continuing to claim

Carer's Allowanceminus‑ £302.03

Advance Payments

minus‑ £49.36

Need help understanding advance repayments?

We take £49.36 off your payment to pay back your advances.

Check what advances you've had and what you owe.

Debts and loan repayments

Tax Credits recoveryminus‑ £5.00

Read more information about Universal Credit payments, including who to contact on the GOV.UK website. Search for 'find out about money taken off your Universal Credit payments'.

Total deductions

minus‑ £356.39

Your total payment for this month is

£147.33

poppy123456

Thank you. It does include the carers element, which is good. The calculation of your UC is correct. All you can do now is wait for carers allowance to contact you.

As there's no fiancial gain to claiming carers allowance it maybe worth cancelling this and just continue with your UC. There will then be no carers allowance deductions like there is now.

JohnLFC

Which would you advise, I wait for them to contact me or phone back and ask to close down the carers claim and then update UC that i no longer get carers because they stopped paying the carers 2/3 weeks ago

poppy123456

That's entirely your decision. If you receive carers allowance every 4 weeks, rather than monthly it may not affect your budget too much. Some people receive it weekly and then their UC monthly so it can help with budgeting.

The reason i suggested to cancel it was because it will save the hassel of reporting your self employed earnings to them.

JohnLFC

I will give them a call and request it is closed, how long after carers close the claim should it be before I can ask UC to update my claim to reflect that?

poppy123456

I have no idea how long it will take for this.