Universal Credit, Carers Element Premium affecting Severe Disability Premium (SDP)

jesse136

We recently migrated onto UC and as my partner is currently off long term sick I was called into the job centre and told that I would be expected to work. At that time I was caring for a parent who was recovering from an operation, they receive SDP. I explained this to the advisor who told me to put myself down as a carer. I did not want to stop any of my parents benefits but was told that this wouldn’t happen. I then registered and received carers element premium, something that I did not even know existed or wanted.

My parent has now received a letter saying that the benefit they receive has been reduced. This is the SDP element wwhich I was told would not be deducted. I therefore went online and de-registered as a carer and I’m hoping that this will automatically restart the SDP??

I have been called into the job centre again, I explained why I cancelled the carers element and I was told that it should not affect my parents SDP. I have read online that it does. I have been given the wrong information and this has had a financial implication on my parent. Again, I was told that the SDP should not have stopped.

Does anyone know or have experience of doing a change of circumstance to stop claiming carers element or carers allowance and the automatic restarting of the SDP or whether I need to get my parent to ring up to get the allowance restarted? I am also worried that as the SDP no longer exists that I may now have just cost my parent a lot of money through incorrect advise received.

poppy123456

Yes, you were advised incorrectly. Part of the criteria for SDP is you live alone, or treated as living alone and no one claims either carers element or carers allowance for looking after you.

Your parent will need to ring ESA to reclaim SDP, yes it still exists for those claiming certain Income Related benefits.

jesse136

Thank you for your reply. My parent is 86 and did receive pension credit guarantee credit with SDP and attendance allowance before this change. Will these benefits still count towards reclaiming SDP?

poppy123456

They need to contact Pension Credit to reclaim SDP and once it's in payment if their other circumstances haven't changed they will be entitled to the same amount of money. AA isn't means tested.

Was it carers allowance you claimed as well or just carers element of UC?

For future reference it's never a great idea to get benefits advice from your local Job centre or the UC helpline because they are not benefits advisors.

jesse136

It was just the carers element that I received. I am new to all of the benefit system and assumed that the job centre staff were knowledgable, I now know better. Will ring the Pension Credit Dept and hopefully get it reinstated as there are no change of circumstances. Thank you so much for your help, much appreciated.