Dla and universal credit

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wills95

Just a quickie, if my sons DLA gets approved once I let universal credit know will they also backdate the disabled child element to when the award began ? Or does that start from when you inform them? As my claim is looking to take around 15/16 weeks 
thank you  

poppy123456

You'll be entitled to the disabled child element from the assessment period in which the DLA claim started, so backdated to when you first applied. If he's awarded any rate of DLA then you'll be entitled to the lower disabled child element. If he's awarded high rate care then you'll be entitled to the higher disabled child element.

Also if he's awarded either mid/high rate care and you look after him for at least 35 hours per week then you'll be able to claim carers element of UC. (unless you're also claiming the LCWRA element for yourself and then you can't claim carers element)