Can I still receive carers allowance while if I apply for lwrca?

brave

hi can somone help please . Will I continue to get the carers allowance if I claim lwrca , if successful - and I get the higher monthly payment for lwrca included in my universal credit , I understand that the carers element will stop in my universal credit claim and instead I will recieve the lwrca element in my universal credit . But my question is will I continue getting the atchual carers allowance payment of 326 I get monthly which is a separate payment ? And also get the lwrca payment in my universal credit if successful - .

poppy123456

Yes, you can continue with carers allowance and it will continue to be deducted in full as normal. You are correct the carers element will stop if found to have LCWRA. If the decision takes longer than the waiting period then you will only be owed the difference between carers element and LCWRA element.

My advice assumes you're not claiming UC with a partner that already receives the LCWRA element on your claim.

In addition, if you're claiming UC with a partner, your partner can claim carers element instead of you, (if you're found to have LCWRA) providing they care for that person for at least 35 hours per week.

brave

hi thankyou for your understanding . Yes I don’t have a partner and I am the sole person recieving universal credit and I get the carers element on this because I care for someone and also recieve carers allowance (separate payment) and I also am receiving pip . So can you just clarify once more if I apply for the lwrca and am successful I get the higher amount , my understanding is the carers element will be replaced with lwrca in universal credit ? The carers allowance which is a separate payment , I will continue to receive the payments monthly of 326 , I’m assuming claiming lwrca and pip have no impact on the separate payment of carers allowance but having a successful claim for lwrca would only take away the carers element from my universal credit not my atchual carers allowance payment ? Also , will successfully applying and recieving lwrca - have any effect on my PIP payments at all ? Please advice thank you

poppy123456

I can confirm that my advice above is correct, which you can see here.

Yes, you can continue with carers allowance and it will continue to be deducted in full as normal. You are correct the carers element will stop if found to have LCWRA. 

If the decision takes longer than the waiting period then you will only be owed the difference between carers element and LCWRA element.

LCWRA is part of UC and your PIP is completely separate, it will not affect it. (in a bad way)

brave

thank you for clearing that up . Much appreciated.

poppy123456

You're welcome.