Carer Element Query

purple01

hi,I am on adult disability and my husband receives the carer element through UC. We briefly seperated for 3 months where he moved out the family home however he did continue to provide care to me during this time but was no given carer element for this. Now living back together and he is back receiving carer element. Do you have to live with someone to be entitled to the carer element? Or is this something he should still have received despite living separately at that time? Any advice welcome.

poppy123456

No you do not need to live with someone to be entitled to it.

However, carers element is part of UC and can only be claimed if you’re claiming UC. It’s not a benefit on its own.

purple01

thank you poppy. I was still receiving universal credit during the period we did not live together. But they didn’t pay him the carer element during that period, only when he moved back into the family home.

poppy123456

I wouldn’t expect the carers element to continue when you weren’t living together because the UC claim would have been just for you. You can’t claim this for looking after yourself.

It would only continue if he was claiming UC himself and was still caring for you for at least 35 hours per week.

purple01

That makes sense. Thank you for clarifying.

dagoberto

I have a question i live in Manchester i get UC but i want to be a carer for my cousin who lives in london i would be caring over 35h over a week but i would still live in Manchester, i would just travel to London for 3 days, and then come back, so my question is can i get the carer element or they won't accept that. I couldn't find any answer online all i could find is information that you don't have to live at the same address but nothing about living in different cities.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/972160#Comment_972160

You don't have to live at the same address but as you live so far away from the person you want to care for they may question that.

You also need to be care that this person isn't claiming Severe disability Premium in another benefit because claim either carers allowance or carers element of UC would end the SDP.

dagoberto

Hi thanks for response, no he's not getting any premiums just lcwra as he's not able to work, that's the thing they can question that but what does that mean ? Its not stated anywhere that there's any distance limit or anything like that all it takes is 2h train, do you think they cant refuse to accept that or just question it ?