My carer claims carer's allowance - now is on UC, any point to claim carer's element?

Azukker

As per the title... my carer who cares for me some 40+ hours a week has claimed carer's allowance for years (which I believe is means-tested, and an independent "benefit"). 

My carer recently started on universal credit.  They can see that carer's allowance is reduced £1 for £1 from the universal credit statement, which was expected/fine.

The only question is - is there any point in asking for "carer's credit" to the universal credit claim - would this make any difference whatsoever?  I've seen plenty of things say if you have carer's credit, that claiming carer's allowance is largely pointless (since what you get from carer's allowance, will just get removed from your universal credit £1 for £1)... but what about the other way around - is getting "carer's credit" addon/element of universal credit tacked-on, also pointless, when you already have the old carer's allowance?

Sorry if it's super obvious, but looking through various googled results for both doesn't really clarify this in a simple/obvious way.

poppy123456

Carers credits is completely different to carers allowance and it isn’t part of UC. 

What they need to do is make sure their UC includes the carers element. If it doesn’t then they need to report a change of circumstances. Then click caring for someone and report caring for at least 35 hours per week. Their UC maximum entitlement will then increase by £185.86/month.

You would think that if someone is claiming carers allowance that the carers element would automatically be added but it isn’t. This is most likely because if a person is claiming the LCWRA element then they can’t be paid the carers element at the same time. 

Azukker

poppy123456 said:

Carers credits is completely different to carers allowance and it isn’t part of UC. 

What they need to do is make sure their UC includes the carers element. If it doesn’t then they need to report a change of circumstances. Then click caring for someone and report caring for at least 35 hours per week. Their UC maximum entitlement will then increase by £185.86/month.

You would think that if someone is claiming carers allowance that the carers element would automatically be added but it isn’t. This is most likely because if a person is claiming the LCWRA element then they can’t be paid the carers element at the same time. 

Thanks for that, I'll pass it on - yes your last point is exactly what started the confusion and the googling... they (UC) knew about the carer's allowance (since it's right there in the statement, being removed £1 for £1)... and they (UC) know there is no LCWRA being claimed (since it'd be right there if there was), so it could (should?) be automatic, and we both assumed it must all be "fine/as expected", but I had doubts after seeing people refer to the UC "carer element/credits" separately to the old "carer's allowance".

poppy123456

They very very rarely include the carers element even in cases like this. For the old legacy benefits such as Income Related ESA the carers premium (same as carers element) is automatically added.