Hi, my name is Andrew_C! Are there any UC supplements for caring for an adult with ALN?

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Andrew_C

Hi All,

First time posting. I was wondering if anyone has advice for me as reading the numerous websites has fried my ADHD addled mind.

I am a full-time carer for my daughter who has been diagnosed with ASD. She has finished her A-Levels and despite doing well experienced burnout and now has a diminished capability, suffering from deeper anxiety and depression.

We had a communication from Universal Credit today saying that as she is no longer in Full Time Education they will be deducting over £300 a month from our UC payments. This would really cause issues with our finances as I am an unpaid carer (except for Carers Allowance).

Is there any UC supplement for caring for an Adult with ALN that anyone is aware of?

Any input would be fantastic.

Kind Regards

Andrew

poppy123456

Unfortunately, not for yourself. Once dependant children leave full time education the child element and disabled child element ends for them because they are now an adult in their own right.

You need to make sure your UC include the carers element because carers allowance is just deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

Please also be aware that if you have no other children on your claim and you or a partner are receiving earnings, you will no longer have the work allowance. Unless either yourself or a partner have been through the work capability assessment and been found to have either LCW or LCWRA.

With no work allowance, this means that any earnings received will reduce your UC by 55% and there will be no earnings disregard.

As your daughter is now an adult in her own right she can claim UC herself. She will need to make sure she reports her health condition when she claims and then provides a fit note within 7 days of that. She will be referred for a work capability assessment. If found to have Limited capability for work related activity (LCWRA) then she'll be entitled to extra money from the 4th month of her claim.

In the meantime while a decision is being made on that her UC entitlement will be £311.68/month as she's under 25.

There's some information about UC with a health condition 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#:~:text=When%20you%20make%20a%20claim,Work%20Capability%20Assessment%20(%20WCA%20).