Carers allowance entitlement

Millymoomoo
Millymoomoo Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
in Benefits and income

Hi, I used to earn more than threshold for carers allowance. But last few years and since threshold has increased to £151, just realized I may be entitled to claim carers allowance and maybe be better off?

Daughter gets pip

I care for adult daughter over 35hrs a week. And my take home pay is £589.42 a month. I currently get carer element of universal credit.

Would I be eligible for carers allowance? And do I have to end carers element before applying? Or does it automatically get taken off UC when I apply and receive it.

Some helpful answers pls

Comments

  • Millymoomoo
    Millymoomoo Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener

    Some pointers would be helpful!!

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    I'm sorry that no one replied to your question straight away. Please remember that members here advise freely in their own spare time. Many of those members also have health conditions their self so it may not always be possible to have an answer as soon as you post. A little patience is sometimes needed.

    Unless you live in Scotland, there's no financial gain to claiming carers allowance at the same time as UC because it's just deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

    There are some advantages to claiming it, for carers allowance you would receive class 1 NI credits but for UC you would receive class 3. You can also receive carers allowance payment weekly, where as UC is monthly so some say it helps to budget a litter easier.

    There's also a disadvantage if you work because you're limited with your earnings and you need to be careful you don't go over the maximum amount of earnings. You don't have that worry when claiming UC because carers element has no earnings limit.

    You do not need to end the carers element because that continues as normal.

  • Millymoomoo
    Millymoomoo Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener

    So I don't need to cease UC carers element if I decided to apply for carers allowance?

    Dies carers allowance increase my income at all if I apply? Or as you say only give me better class NI contributions if I apply for it?

    What are the maximum earnings weekly for carers Allowance?

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    No, you do not need to stop claiming carers element if you apply for CA.

    No, claiming CA will not increase your income because there's no financial gain to claiming it. It's just deducted in full from any UC entitlement. The maximum weekly earnings is £151 (after Tax and NI) if you claim CA.

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