LCWRA and Carers Allowance - Allocation of Award etc

Chestwrpug
Chestwrpug Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
edited May 20 in Universal Credit (UC)

My husband and are have just been awarded LCWRA and have both been claiming Carers allowance since January.

I understand that only one of us will receive the LCWRA allowance and the other can continue to claim for Carers allowance. Is this correct?

Can anyone help me on how will this be decided on who receives what? My husband is 65 and more disabled than me & will receive his state pension next July. I am 61 and still need NI contributions.

Does UC decide or do we have to contact them? Really unsure of the next steps of the process as this is all new to us?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,702 Championing

    Carers Allowance is separate from UC.

    In a couples claim the maximum payment for UC is:

    1 x LCWRA Element

    1 x Carers Element.

    You can both have entitlement to LCWRA, but only one LCWRA element will be paid.

    So the usual advice is for one to claim LCWRA and the other Carers Element.

  • Chestwrpug
    Chestwrpug Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener

    Thank you. Do UC automatically adjust our benefits or do we have to notify them?

    Also can we still claim for the Carers Allowance?

    Apologies, but it is all a little confusing :)

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,702 Championing
    edited May 20

    UC will automatically put one LCWRA element into payment.

    Once you know who is being paid for LCWRA, the other can claim Carers Element (if you aren't getting this already).

    You can continue claiming Carers Allowance although this will be deducted in full from your UC award.

    Once your husband is state pension age things do get more complicated. At that point I'd recommend getting advice from a trained benefits advisor.

    https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/age-uk-advice-line/

    https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

  • Chestwrpug
    Chestwrpug Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener

    Thank you _ that's very helpful :)

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 1,622 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists

    Hi @Chestwrpug and a warm welcome to the community from me😀

    I see Kimi has already answered you question and given some great advice so i won't add anything else today but its lovely to have you here and I hope you enjoy your time on the community😁

  • Chestwrpug
    Chestwrpug Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener

    Thank you for the welcome Mary.
    UC have allocated LWRCA to me and the Carer elementary to my husband. Hopefully that works but I am aware that we will need more advice when he draws his state pension.
    This is all new to us and I’m not sure if I am missing anything?

    Best wishes

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