Just awarded DLA for daughter, what happens now with my UC?

trayharlem

Hi there,

I’m new here & just needing some advice. I have just received some DLA back pay for my daughter. Im assuming is middle rate due to the amount. It took 6 months to finally get there 😫 I have not got an award letter as yet, so I was surprised to see this in my account. I am a single parent on UC with limited capability to work due to a heart condition. I will now apply for carers allowance but am unable to do so as I do not have the award letter with the claim reference no on it or it as yet which is needed for the online form. Where do I go from here? Do I report this to universal credit yet & will my money be reduced while I wait to apply for the carers allowance? I do worry because I have already been struggling so badly with a special needs child for 6 months waiting for this decision I don’t want to be back to square one again & be worse off. Many thanks in advance

Kimmy87

You wouldn't be financially better off with Carers Allowance, as it would be deducted in full from your UC award.

You can claim Disabled Child element of UC by reporting the change through your Journal. This should be backdated to the date of your daughters application.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/universal-credit-uc/additional-elements-of-universal-credit-uc

Carers Element exists under UC but if you already get LCWRA then you can't also get CE.

trayharlem

Hi Kimmy,

Thank you, this was what I was worrying about. I will report the DLA award on my journal

many thanks

poppy123456

If your UC includes the LCWRA element for yourself then you will not be able to claim carers element at the same time. This is because the same person can't receive both elements together and only the higher element is paid, which is LCWRA.

If your UC also include Transitional Protection because you migrated from other benefits then this will erode by the additional lower disabled child element. Unless your UC claim started after the date the DLA was awarded from.

trayharlem

Hi again,

I was on ESA assessment level (limited capability for work) since 2019, I then transitioned to UC. I then had to start 3 monthly job centre meetings again when she turned 3 in 2023.
I just assumed I would have to claim carers allowance as essentially they’re still saying I need to prepare for work eventually, which isn’t possible. My child needs 24/7 care & mainstream school won’t take her on so I have to home school her until a suitable place is found. It’s all a bit confusing.

poppy123456

You don't need to claim carers allowance to be entitled to carers element of UC as there's no financial gain to claiming it. The only advantage is that you would receive class 1 NI credits but for UC it's just class 3. The carers allowance is deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

For carers element, you will need to report a change and then click caring for someone and report it through there. Your UC maximum entitlement will increase by £198.31/month. As a carer you will have no commitments, no appointments or anything.

trayharlem

thank you for the advice ❤️

trayharlem

thanks again for all the info you were spot on with everything. I updated my journal and the advisor got back to me more or less straight away & told me to take the steps you told me with making the changes etc. They verified everything & said she would pass it on to the decision maker to see if I was entitled to any back pay with the DLA & carers element of UC. She was unsure if I would, due to it taking 6 months for the DLA claim to be processed. Is this usually the case that you get nothing back if the claim took several months? They have been informed since I applied & updated them all the way through so it’s not like this is something I’ve just sprung on them.

Kimmy87

It should be backdated to the date you applied, regardless if it took 6 months or 2 months etc.

If it isn't, you can request a Mandatory Reconsideration of the decision not to backdate.

trayharlem

perfect! Thank you. ☺️