Carer's element UC

rachelh72
rachelh72 Community Member Posts: 38 Connected
in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi my husband and I have separated but still reside together in the same home and have now split our joint UC account so that my husband can claim housing element in his own right when he finds alternative accomodation but he's recovering from a recent illness and I'm still caring for him. Can I claim carers element of UC and will there be any point/benefit in doing so? We are both severely disabled and he is currently in LCWRA group. Thanks

Comments

  • shafilia
    shafilia Community Member Posts: 2 Listener

    If your husband has a current claim for dla/pip/aa that includes the care component then you can apply for the care element of universal credit to be added to your claim. If he has no current claim then no, you can not claim the carers element, But be aware if have been placed in the LCWRA group yourself and do claim the carers element which requires you to care for a person for at least 35 hours per week then the dwp may well enquire/question how severely disabled you are if you able to provide 35 hours of care for somebody each week.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 5,998 Championing

    Just to add to the above, if you have already LCWRA yourself, you cannot claim the Carers Element as well. Each person can only claim one of those two. As LCWRA pays the higher amount, there would be no point in you applying for the Carers Element.

    If you don't have LCWRA then yes you can claim the Carers Element (assuming your husband gets a qualifying benefit), it would add £209.34 to your monthly payment and remove your work search commitment.

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