Carers allowance and Universal Credit - HELP! — Scope | Disability forum
If we become concerned about you or anyone else while using one of our services, we will act in line with our safeguarding policy and procedures. This may involve sharing this information with relevant authorities to ensure we comply with our policies and legal obligations.

Find out how to let us know if you're concerned about another member's safety.
Read our community guidelines and our community house rules.

Carers allowance and Universal Credit - HELP!

braidliam123
braidliam123 Member Posts: 1 Listener
edited February 2018 in Universal Credit (UC)
Hi can anyone help please....i have just recieved my carers allowance what has been back dated 3 months, but universal credit have takin it all, so i havnt received any payment of carers, i thought they was seperate claims and i should of got the carers money?????? Can anyone shed some info please thanks
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
«1

Comments

  • JennysDad
    JennysDad Member Posts: 2,299 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @braidliam123 and welcome to the community. I am very glad you have found us.
    I'm relatively new here and do not have the answer to your specific question, but I know that there are plenty of people here who know more about it and they will be along to chat with you in due course. Please bear with us.
    You're among friends Liam (I'm guessing :) )and we're listening.
    Warmest best wishes to you,
    Richard

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pippa_Alumni
    Pippa_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,793 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @braidliam123, and welcome!

    So sorry to hear this, how frustrating for you. I'd recommend giving the UC helpline a ring and explaining the situation:
    Universal Credit helpline 
    Telephone: 0800 328 9344 
    Welsh language (make a claim): 0800 012 1888 
    Textphone: 0800 328 1344 
    Monday- Friday 8am-6pm
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ScopeHelpline
    ScopeHelpline Member Posts: 207 Courageous
    Hi @braidliam123

    Most forms of income are taken into account against a Universal credit award - in other words, the income reduces the universal credit award.

    You do normally get extra universal credit money when you claim carers allowance; because you have an award of CA, you are entitled to an addition on your universal credit claim called carer element.

    It is possible that you could already have the carer element,  because under universal credit, you don't necessarily have to have carers allowance to get that element. You just need to be substantially caring for the disabled person you care for. 

    Another possibility is that you may currently have a Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) element  for yourself. You wouldn't be able to get a carer element, for yourself, as well, under universal credit rules. 

    Have a look at this guidance for DWP staff, paragraph F6014
    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/661570/admf6.pdf

    Otherwise, if neither of these possibilities is the case, then it's entirely possible that the DWP have made a mistake in not awarding the carer element.

    You could either contact the Universal Credit Helpline, as PippaScope above says, or send a message on your online journal.

    I hope this helps. 


    Gil 
    (Scope Helpline)



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kentwoman
    kentwoman Member Posts: 6 Listener

    Hi I'm on Carers allowance for my son and get housing benefit. Not sure if Universal Credit replaces my Carers allowance or not. I know it replaces housing benefit.

    Scope website does not list Carers Allowance as a benefit that's affected by UC.

    But seen on other websites it is affected?  Really confused.

    Look after a son whos on enhanced PIP and just started ESA (been signed off as having depression and autism) by doc.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Member Posts: 31,271 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi,

    I'm confused by your questions. Is it UC or ESA you're claiming?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ralph
    Ralph Member Posts: 40 Connected
    I don’t know about UC but when you get income support your carers allowance is deducted from your income support. In other words you are no better off financially with carers allowance than without. So if you were getting full UC for those weeks you cannot get the extra carers allowance as well therefore they took it back. 
    I may be wrong but that’s my best guess. 
    Btw claiming carers allowance is worthwhile as all your eggs are not in the one IS or UC basket. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Member Posts: 31,271 Disability Gamechanger
    Ralph said:
    I don’t know about UC but when you get income support your carers allowance is deducted from your income support. In other words you are no better off financially with carers allowance than without. So if you were getting full UC for those weeks you cannot get the extra carers allowance as well therefore they took it back. 
    I may be wrong but that’s my best guess. 
    Btw claiming carers allowance is worthwhile as all your eggs are not in the one IS or UC basket. 

    That's not exactly correct, sorry.

    When claiming Carers allowance and either ESA, Income Support or UC the the Carers allowance is deducted £1 for £1 for the benefit you're claiming. This is because they're over lapping benefits. Carers allowance then pay you and a carers premium is added to either ESA or IS of £36 per week. A carers element is added to the UC of £156 per month. So, for ESA and IS when claiming carers allowance you're £36 per week better off and £156 per month when claiming UC.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kentwoman
    kentwoman Member Posts: 6 Listener

    Hi Sorry for confusing everyone!   I am now 60 and get two pensions (only total £225 a month, not enough to live on) that wiped out my income support. I only now get carers allowance every week. plus Housing Benefit (I still pay £35 rent a week, £64 council tax a month).  - I'm penalised because I have a pension lump sum, so tarriff income is being applied at about £100 a month from my benefits.

    My son gets enhanced PIP and ESA, which has just started and has not been called in for any interviews by DWP as yet to determine which group he will be in.

    I know money he's getting does not affect my income.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Member Posts: 31,271 Disability Gamechanger
    Your Carers allowance affects Income Support and a carers premium is added. Your Ill health pension will affect UC, Income Support, JSA and ESA Income related £1 for £1 because these are means tested benefits and they are counted as income when claiming any of them.

    Do you live alone? How many bedrooms in your house and do you rent from social housing or privately?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kentwoman
    kentwoman Member Posts: 6 Listener

    Hi

    I live with my son, 24 years old, husband (who gets £100 pension a month) 2 beds, Housing Assoc house. 



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Member Posts: 31,271 Disability Gamechanger
    As your son claims ESA and he's under 25 then you shouldn't have any non dependent deductions from your housing benefit, you need to check this with your local council.

    Put all your details into a benefits calculator and see what it comes up with but both your pension are counted as income and will affect what you can claim.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heathermcew
    heathermcew Member Posts: 2 Listener
    Hello, was wondering if you had an update on this?

    i am on universal credit and recently applied for carers allowance.. how will it affect my universal credit and will it all be backdated?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Member Posts: 31,271 Disability Gamechanger
    heathermcew said:
    Hello, was wondering if you had an update on this?

    i am on universal credit and recently applied for carers allowance.. how will it affect my universal credit and will it all be backdated?
    Hi,

    Carers Allowance is classed as income when calculating UC payments and will be deducted £1 for £1 (approximately £280 per month) Carers allowance then pay you each week. This is because you can't receive carers allowance twice. If you've been claiming UC for the whole time then you won't receive any backdated money.

    When claiming UC there's no need to claim carers allowance because you can claim the carers element without claiming carers allowance. The only advantage to claiming carers allowance at the same time is the class 1 NI credits towards your state pension.

    It's possible that you can receive the carers element of UC added to your claim but this will depend on your circumstances. If you're receiving the LCWRA element in with your UC then you won't be able to claim the Carers element on top. If you don't receive the LCWRA then you'll need to ask UC to add the Carers element, which is £160 per month. Hope this helps.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Welshlad90
    Welshlad90 Member Posts: 68 Connected
    My partner claimed carers allowance for me made them aware that we claim universal credit but today they have put over £2000 in her bank. Any advice please?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Member Posts: 31,271 Disability Gamechanger
    Welshlad90 said:
    My partner claimed carers allowance for me made them aware that we claim universal credit but today they have put over £2000 in her bank. Any advice please?
    You need to ring them because there will be an overpayment if you don't.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Welshlad90
    Welshlad90 Member Posts: 68 Connected
    But they stated on the letter we had 3 days ago that we were in receipt of u/c during the backdated period 

    poppy123456 said:
    Welshlad90 said:
    My partner claimed carers allowance for me made them aware that we claim universal credit but today they have put over £2000 in her bank. Any advice please?
    You need to ring them because there will be an overpayment if you don't.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Member Posts: 31,271 Disability Gamechanger
    If the money came from carers allowance then you will need to ring them and UC because carers allowance is deducted £1 for £1 from your UC and you shouldn't have received that backdated money.

    You need to make sure that UC have added the carers element.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Ralph
    Ralph Member Posts: 40 Connected
    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/apr/26/dwp-staff-problems-leave-carers-with-years-of-overpaid-benefit-debt
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Welshlad90
    Welshlad90 Member Posts: 68 Connected
    Ralph said:
    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/apr/26/dwp-staff-problems-leave-carers-with-years-of-overpaid-benefit-debt
    It's their error we told them we had been getting universal credit and they said they would need to check with uc before issuing any payments then 3 days later nearly £2200 was in my partners bank 
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Welshlad90
    Welshlad90 Member Posts: 68 Connected
    We have all the proof from them in letters stating they knew we have been getting uc benefit and that they would need to check with them before issuing any backdating payments
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Brightness

Categories

Complete our feedback form and tell us how we can make the community better.

Do you need advice on your energy costs?


Scope’s Disability Energy Support service is open to any disabled household in England or Wales in which one or more disabled people live. You can get free advice from an expert adviser on managing energy debt, switching tariffs, contacting your supplier and more. Find out more information by visiting our
Disability Energy Support webpage.