LCWRA deducting more than I receive for CA?

ConfusedG

Hello,

I would like to ask advice on my current situation.

I am on LCWRA and recently became a carer for my grandma so I applied for Carer's allowance.

On my newest statement of UC, the amount of CA removed is £332.58, despite the amount received being £307. That's a discrepancy of £25.58 a month which would be £306.96 a year. 

Is that normal?

Thank you

poppy123456

The title of your thread doesn't reflect your question. LCWRA isn't a benefit on its own, it's part of Universal Credit.

It's perfectly normal. Carers allowance is a weekly benefit and UC is a monthly benefit. There's also 4.3 weeks in a month and not 4 weeks. If you receive carers allowance every 4 weeks then there will be 1 month a year where you will receive 2 payments.

To work out the monthly deduction for UC for the carers allowance you times the £76.75/week by 52 then divide by 12 which gives you £332.58/month. 

There's also no financial gain to claiming carer allowance as well as UC. As your UC also includes the LCWRA for yourself then you can't receive carers element at the same time.

Does your Grandma live alone?

ConfusedG

Thank you. I didn't know that, it makes sense now.

I am in Scotland and the system allows carers to get a supplement twice a year, that's why I was suggested by the charity to apply for it. My grandma used to live with my dad but he passed away last November. I am the only one who can take of her now and I don't want to see her in a care home. 

ConfusedG

poppy123456 said:

The title of your thread doesn't reflect your question. LCWRA isn't a benefit on its own, it's part of Universal Credit.

It's perfectly normal. Carers allowance is a weekly benefit and UC is a monthly benefit. There's also 4.3 weeks in a month and not 4 weeks. If you receive carers allowance every 4 weeks then there will be 1 month a year where you will receive 2 payments.

To work out the monthly deduction for UC for the carers allowance you times the £76.75/week by 52 then divide by 12 which gives you £332.58/month. 

There's also no financial gain to claiming carer allowance as well as UC. As your UC also includes the LCWRA for yourself then you can't receive carers element at the same time.

Does your Grandma live alone?

Sorry, I am new in the forum. Yes LCWRA is part of universal credit, reading online I was confused because somewhere it says LCWRA takes something off the carer's allowance (sorry I am not 100% sure of how it works exactly) so I wanted to specify that's what I have on the UC. I only applied because the charity who helped me and my grandma after my dad's passing, said that was something that could be good for us especially with both not being able to work.

poppy123456

What you read online was someone who receives the LCWRA element can't receive carers element of UC at the same time. It doesn't apply to carers allowance.

If your grandma lives alone then should could be entitled to SDP as I mentioned above but with you claiming carers allowance for looking after her this would prevent that. Although you receive the carers supplement SDP is worth more than that.