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Carers Allowance/Element

LisaR68

Hi..
At the moment I'm working 40hrs week. My husband is at home alone suffering with Copd and chronic back pain. He is now receiving PIP and we get UC (with Lcwra). I have been thinking for a good few weeks now of becoming his carer as he suffers with what I think is depression because he is home alone. He has been out of work over a year now and its been a hard year.
What I'd like help with is if I work 2 days a week there's an UC carers element how do I go about claiming for this? Working 2 days would take me over the carers allowance I would be earning too much!!!
Grateful for any advice thank you. And thank you for all the help last year too. 😊

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poppy123456

Asuming his PIP includes the daily living part and the LCWRA element is for him? You can claim carers element, regardless of how many hours you work or how much earnings you receive each week/month because there's no earnings limit to this like there is with carers allowance.

To claim this you need to report a change of circumstances on your journal. Then "click" caring for someone. Tell them you care for him for at least 35 hours per week and then they will include the carers element. This will increase your UC maximum entitlement by £185.86/month.

If you do reduce your hours then even if you do claim carers allowance, it's just deducted in full from any UC entitlement so no financial gain. Though you would receive class 1 NI credits from this, where as UC is only class 3.

LisaR68

Hi Poppy
Thank you
I have done that now. Do you know if there would be any back pay? Paul was awarded pip back in November and I've only just found this carers element out I did not know you could claim. All new to me still...
Also I'm working 40hrs and have been debating doing 16hrs as Paul suffers with alot of down days that worry me and I'd like to be home more so he's not always alone. Would that be doable? Hope that makes sense thank you

bg844

LisaR68 said:

Hi Poppy
Thank you
I have done that now. Do you know if there would be any back pay? Paul was awarded pip back in November and I've only just found this carers element out I did not know you could claim. All new to me still...
Also I'm working 40hrs and have been debating doing 16hrs as Paul suffers with alot of down days that worry me and I'd like to be home more so he's not always alone. Would that be doable? Hope that makes sense thank you

You can ask but not guaranteed, leave a message on your journal under the 'payments' category saying (changing the date and adding your name at the bottom):

Hi,

As you are aware from my recent change of circumstances, my husband was awarded PIP from XX/XX/XXXX. I did not know I was eligible for Carer's Element at the time of award so please could you send a request to a Decision Maker to consider backdating to this date.

Kind Regards,

LisaR68

Thank you 😊

Jimm_Alumni

Sorry to hear about how your husband is doing @LisaR68. I hope with you caring for him it will help him feel better. You sound like an amazing and loving partner. I also hope you get the backdated support you request, if you've any further questions you know this community is here to help. Being a carer isn't easy, so we are here even if you just need someone to chat to.

LisaR68

Thank you Jimm..
I'm hoping to go to 2 days a week so I can be there more for him his mental health is suffering. I've just been off 5 days and the difference in him so I know it's a good decision just a scary one with meeting finances. 🙃

LisaR68

Hi..
Could anyone help me understand letter I have received..I've put forward for the carers element and been awarded this...thank you guys for helping..
Then I asked (thanks Jimm) for it to be back dated and got this letter....
Thank you 😊

LisaR68

Sorry...thank you BG844 for the letter template that helped alot 😊😊

poppy123456

I would advise you to edit your comment with that screenshot and remove your full name. Scope do not allowance personal details on the forum to protect yourself and others. If you can't remove your name then i'd advise you to remove the comment completely.

The letter means they are allowing the carers element to be backdated to when you became entitled to it, which will be the assessment period in which he was awarded daily living PIP.

BuzzerButton

hi, can I have some advice? Nice to see Poppy on the boards. You helped me before Poppy.
mum got the pip.
my dad has dementia, but we’ve only recently applied to attendance allowance. Today we received a text saying our application has been received, so no award yet. Decision within 12 weeks. Really, we should’ve applied ages ago.

I usually work 20 hours a week as retail staff. It was very early shifts, so I was back home by 12 noon and help caring for both. Lots of appointments, shopping, cleanings the usual etc.

I only know about carers allowance, & I couldn’t apply for that as I was over the threshold.
Now my situation changed. My mum had a turn for the worst, and I’ve taken a good couple of weeks off unpaid.
my dad has got significantly worse and even on her first day home, he accused her of stealing. She has a strained heart, so I need to be home to make sure he and her are both safe.

I plan on cutting my hours significantly. I need financial help, but I do have savings. I’m going through them fast.

today I found out about carers element. I think I could claim both? But somehow it will cancel each other out?
is there any way I can win by claiming carers allowance for one and carers element for another?
thanks in advance.

Kimi87

Poppy is taking a break from the forum.

You can claim both Carers Element (UC) and Carers Allowance but it has to be for the same person.

You cannot claim one for Mum and the other for Dad.

Carers Element would add £201.68 to a UC award

Carers Allowance is deducted in full from a UC award (£360.96).

BuzzerButton

thankyou for answering. Hope Poppy is okay, thanks for letting me know. You’ve also been very helpful. Thank you kimi87.
So does that mean if I applied for both, I would get 390.96-201.****=189.27? Is that weekly/ monthly? sorry if that’s an eye roll question.
Somebody told me if I get carers allowance, it will take the money away from whoever I apply for (mum or dad). I don’t want to do that. Is that true?

Kimi87

Both the amounts are monthly.

UC is a benefit made up of different elements. These elements are added up, then any deductions are made.

Your UC award would increase by £201.68 (Carers Element), then decrease by £390.96 (Carers Allowance).

So there is no financial gain to claiming Carers Allowance because it is deducted in full from your UC award.

You'd need to know exactly which benefits Mum & Dad are claiming as to whether the caring benefits would effect things.

Carers UK can give specialist benefits advice in this area

https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/helpline-and-other-support/

Or general welfare rights

https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

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