UC Carer LCWRA help

Coia

Hello, im new to this community and I am hoping someone can help me understand something. Recently Citizens Advice supported me in completing my UC migration. During this process they advised I should apply for LCWRA as I would be better off (this was awarded) and I am in the 3 month initial period.

The issue is, I am a carer for my son and receive the Scottish Carers payment of £81.90pw and now I am on UC I am also getting the carers element £198.31pm.

These two things combined are a higher amount than LCWRA, so I am going to be worse off surely, I am very confused?

Can anyone please help me understand this better as Citizens advice has no appointments for at least 6 weeks.

poppy123456

Scottish carers payment is a separate benefit to UC and that will continue as normal. It will also continue to be deducted in full.

Carers element and LCWRA element can't be paid at the same time to the same person. In this case the higher element will be paid, which is LCWRA.

If your UC includes Transitional Protection then it's not good news, your TP will erode when the LCWRA element is included and you will also lose carers element. If your TP is more than £416.19/month then you will be worse off due to the removal of the carers element.

There's an Upper Tribunal ongoing case for this but no decision has been made yet.

Coia

I didn't get any Transitional Payment as I wasn't claiming for things for years that Citizens Advice told me I was entitled to. So I was better off after the migration. I honestly thought they stop your Carers Payment would also be stopped, they do completely deduct the amount just now I understood that, was just confused by the whole thing to be honest. Thank you so much for replying to me 😊

poppy123456

As there was no TP included in your UC then it's not as bad as it would be if there was. It means the carers element will stop and you'll just receive the LCWRA element, which means you'll be better off by £217.88/month, which is the difference between both elements.