Hi, my name is magsyar71!

magsyar71

Hello any help.appreciated.

My husband us in Universal Credit LCFW since 2022 because of his health issues and has been receiving Pip since May 2024. It wasn't until I had to do a change of circumstances iprompt n March 2026 for UC where I updated that I was a carer that we now receive the carers element payment ongoing. I believe., however it can be backdated to the time I became a carer which was 2 years ago? Is.this correct? I didn't know about this carer element before as I wasn't informed. Can I apply.to get it backdated? I also receive carers allowance which is deducted from.the UC monthly payment.. We struggle.with cost of living. I had a brain haemorrhage and had to give up.my Job in 2021 and my husband was self.employed worling all hours until 2020. Until he got ill also but I care for him over 35 hours a week, So life has changed drastically.. I didn't realise the careers element of U C wasn't backdated and it is possible to request a backdated payment is this correct.? How do I go about this as it wasn't refused as I haven't contacted UC about this backdating yet. Any guidance appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

You can request to have the Carers Element backdated. However I have seen the request refused more than once. If it is refused then you can ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration. And if the MR gets refused then you can take it to a Tribunal.

You are meant to declare any changes within one month of them happening for UC. You will have accepted a commitment to do that when first starting the UC claim. So they do have the right to refuse to backdate any change that wasn't declared within that timeframe.

As a starting point, you should just send a polite journal message, explaining that you've been a carer for the last two years, but didn't realise you were entitled to the Carers Element until the recent review. Then ask them to backdate the Carers Element to a specific date, and confirm that you've got paperwork to prove that date (your husbands PIP award letter).

Mary_Scope

Hi @magsyar71 and a warm welcome to the community from me!

I see OverlyAnxious has already answered your question and given some great information and advice so I won't add anything else but it's lovely to have you here and I hope you enjoy your time on the community😊