Would I be better off with carers allowance?

Kerry2024

Hi

Just looking for some advice please.

My daughter has recently been awarded pip for autism, I currently work 20 hours per week so earn too much to claim carers allowance at present...

If I was to cut my hours to 10 earning the amount to make me eligible for carers allowance would I be massively worse off?

Also can I claim carers element through universal credits aswell as carers allowance?

Thankyou 🙂

poppy123456

Are you already claiming Universal Credit? If you are then you don't need to claim carers allowance to be entitled to carers element of UC. Providing you're not claiming the LCWRA element for yourself.

If you claim carers allowance at the same time then it's just deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

Jimm_Scope

Hi @Kerry2024 welcome to our community 😊 I hope we can help you figure this one out. First of all congrats to your daughter for getting PIP! That isn't an easy process, I've heard some difficult things about getting PIP when you have Autism as often the DWP don't take it as seriously. So this story is actually already rather heartwarming for me!

As Poppy says, are you claiming any Universal Credit? As there is a carers element within UC! I will pop this over to our Benefits category incase you do have further questions 🙂

Kerry2024

Kerry2024

Hi poppy and Jimm.

Thankyou for your responses.

I am already claiming universal credit as a single parent who works 20 hours a week.

I've recently applied for the carers element which is £198 per month.

This has been verified, currently just waiting for payments to begin.

Unsure if I'm able to claim carers allowance as well as the carers element though?

As said I work 20 hours a week at present but looking to do 10 hours instead and claim carers allowance but unsure how much worse off I'd be?

The benefits calculator is confusing! I'm new to all this !

All I know is I can't claim carers allowance unless I reduce my hours and earn £151 per week maximum.

But as I've recently claimed the carers element I don't know if that'll cause problems or if I'm entitled to claim both. All abit confusing.

Thankyou for your kind words and help.

I was very shocked my daughter got accepted for pip first time!

But very happy as she's struggled all through school undiagnosed! She's now 18 and only got an official diagnosis and ehcp a year ago!

Thankyou again 🙂

poppy123456

You are correct that you can’t claim carers allowance at the moment due to your earnings being more than £151/week.

If you reduced your earnings then you can claim carers allowance at the same time as carers element.

However, as I advised earlier in the thread, there’s no financial gain to claiming it at the same time as UC because it’s just deducted in full.

There are some advantages to claiming it such as you would receive class 1 NI credits where as from UC it’s only class 3. However, as you’re working then you would already be paying NI contributions anyway.

Kerry2024

Hi poppy

Thankyou for your help 🙂

Kerry2024

Hi again

Just to update, I've been accepted for the carers element of £198 per month and also £487 per month for having a disabled child which I wasn't aware I'd be getting?

I rang universal credit to check this was correct and apparently it is and I'll still receive this when my daughter (currently 18) leaves education when she's 20?

Just confused and triple checking this is correct?

Just didn't think would receive any benefits for my daughter once she left education?

So do you know if this is correct please that when my daughter leaves education next year will I still receive the carers element of £198 and £487 for a disabled child?

Thanks once again

Kind regards

poppy123456

Once she leaves full time education then the child element and disabled child element will both end. This is because she will no longer be treated as a dependent child.

If she does remain in full time no advanced education then both elements will end on 1st September following her 19th birthday. Payments will not continue until she's 20 even if she remains in full time education. UC has different rules to Child Tax credits.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-your-family-quick-guide/universal-credit-further-information-for-families#:~:text=When%20your%20child%20turns%2016,in%20eligible%20education%20or%20training

She will then be able to claim UC in her own right, if her health condition limits her capability to work.

I also see you've used your full name on the comment above, personal information isn't allow on the forum to protect your identity. This is a public forum and anyone can see it.

Community_Scope

Hi Kerry, just to let you know I've edited out your name, just for your safety. I hope that's ok.

Kind regards,

Albus.

Kerry2024

Hi

Thanks for that, just did it automatically.

Poppy...that's what I thought but the universal credit advisor said otherwise and that I'd continue getting the £487 even after she leaves full time education which will be next year (just before her 20th birthday) I thought this strange as she would no longer be classed as a dependent.

The advisor also said I'd continue to get the carers element of £198 per month too when she leaves education....is this correct?

All very new to this and about confused 😕.

I will be ringing back universal credits later to speak with another advisor as I think the first one gave me incorrect information.

Also..I never actually applied for the £487 child disability (only carers element) does the child disability benefit automatically get awarded when you apply for carers element?

Just worried it's a mistake and getting over paid.

Thanks once again

Best wishes. k 🙂

poppy123456

Please do not ring the helpline to speak to anyone for any benefits advice. They are not benefits advisors. They are call centre staff who sit there reading from a screen. Very often they give incorrect advice.

The person you spoke to is not correct. It can't be paid past 1st September following their 19th birthday if they remain in full time education. Please read the link I posted above.

If they leave full time non advanced education before that date then both elements will end.

Your carers element will continue as normal.

The reason you are entitled to the higher disabled child element is because your daughter's PIP includes Enhanced daily living. When I advised you previously about the carers element I didn't realise this element wasn't included at that time. Had I realised I would have advised you. When they checked your daughter's PIP award they also included the disabled child element, which is a very good thing. It is not linked to the carers element.

It is not a mistake so please don't worry about that.

Kerry2024

Thanks very much poppy. .who do I call for advice if not the helpline in future?

Thanks again, so much 😊 K

poppy123456

Please see link and scroll to "4 support for disabled children"

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-your-family-quick-guide/universal-credit-further-information-for-families

When is she 19?

Kerry2024

Thankyou poppy.

One more question! Sorry...

When the child element and child disability stops next year can my daughter then claim the disability element as well as universal credits and ESA all alongside pip?

Thanks again 👍

poppy123456

No problem. She won't be able to claim ESA because she hasn't worked in the previous 2 tax years. She will be able to claim UC in her own right but she'll need to report her health condition and provide fit notes. She will then be referred for a work capability assessment.

Until a decision is made on the work capability assessment she will be entitled to the standard allowance (under 25's) which is currently £311.65/month. If found to have LCWRA then she'll be entitled to extra money from the 4th month after she provided her first fit note.

You didn't answer my question above, when is she 19? or is she already 19?

Kerry2024

Thankyou poppy.

Sorry, my daughter will be 29 this September.

She does work but only one 5 hours a week, she's been doing this for 2 months.

Will it go in her favour for the work capability assessment that she does receive pip?

What does lcwra mean? Sorry as say new to this.

poppy123456

29? surely that should have been 19? 😂 This means if she continues in full time non advanced eduction your child and disabled child elements will continue until about August next year.

PIP and LCWRA are completely different, claiming one doesn't automatically entitle her to the other.

LCWRA = Limited Capability For Work Related Activity. It means she will not need to attend appointments or look for work. Although she can work if she wants to, providing the work she does doesn't contradict the reasons why she's providing fit notes.

There's more information here.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-quick-guide/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition

Kerry2024

Lol yes I meant 19 😆😆 thanks for all your time, you've been very helpful 🙂

Kerry2024

poppy123456

Lol I thought so, silly typos 😂 and you're welcome. Please do come back once she leaves full time non advanced education if you need any further advice.