Carers allowance vs carers element on universal credit

0161Orange

I recently was awarded PIP standard rate for daily living and my wife cares for me over 35 hours per week and she earns less than £100 per week working but I am wondering which is better for her to claim for and which has less financial impact on universal credit as I am aware that for every £1.00 earned claiming carers allowance or carers element then £1.00 is deducted from our universal credit so what benefit is there in claiming carers support at all.

poppy123456

Carers allowance is not classed as earned income, it's called as "other" income and reduces UC entitlement £1 for £1 so there's no financial gain to claiming this and UC at the same time. For carers allowance there's an earnings limit of £139/week, there's no such limit to carers element.

Some people like to claim it because it can be paid weekly, where as UC is a monthly benefit and can help with budgeting a little better.

She can only claim carers element if you claim Universal Credit. Claiming this will increase your maximum UC entitlement by £185.86/month, it doesn't reduce it like you thought. She will not be able to claim carers element if your UC includes the LCWRA element for herself.

0161Orange

My wife does not claim anything other than UC along with me so if she claims the carer element then will she get £185.86 per month added into our usual UC payment each month even if our joint income goes over the benefit cap so our payment will only increase and not go down.

poppy123456

As you've now been awarded PIP the benefit cap will no longer apply to you. If you were affected by this then you will receive any money that's owed from the start of your PIP award.

If your wife claims carers element your UC maximum entitlement will increase by £185.86/month, as previously advised. To claim carers element she will need to "report a change of circumstances" then click "caring for someone" then tell them she's caring for you.

Have you reported your health condition for UC and been through the work capability assessment?

0161Orange

I haven't reported anything to UC yet as I thought UC would automatically know I've been awarded pip so would make any adjustments necessary I don't know what the work capability assessment entails or made the application for the carers element yet as just checking options that best suit first I am working full time and my wife works just 1 day per week and cares for me outside of work hours and weekends but all add up to 35hrs.

poppy123456

The carers element will not just be automatically added, your wife needs to report those changes and then the carers element will be added.

If your health condition limits your capability to work then you can report it but you'll need to send in fit notes within 7 days of this. This will then start the work capability assessment (WCA) process off and you'll be referred for a work capability assessment usually around 29 days later. Once the referral is done you'll receive a letter on your journal and you'll receive the UC50 form in the post shortly after this.

Whether it's worth reporting your health condtions for the WCA will depend on how your conditions affect you. People do work while claiming either LCW or LCWRA but if the work you do contradicts the reasons why you're claim either then it can go against you. If found to have LCWRA then you'll be entitled to extra money from the 4th month after you reported your health condition. You can see the descriptors here for LCWRA https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity

LCW descriptors here. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work

0161Orange

Thanks for your time and very quick replies very much appreciated and informative.

poppy123456

You're welcome.