Backdated

rebeccabirch

Hi,
I did a claim for carers allowance and today I got my first payment. However I haven’t had any backdated yet and I am entitled to it. I’ve called the CA office twice and not got through to anyone!! Can anyone tell me do you get the backdated money after your first payment?
Thankyou,
Rebecca

Sam_Alumni

Welcome to the community @rebeccabirch I'm sure someone will be along soon to advice.

@Joanne_Scope can you help?

poppy123456

Hi,

Do you claim any other benefits like universal credit, ESA, JSA or Income Support?

rebeccabirch

I claim UC and we get ESA within our UC claim.

poppy123456

The carers allowance will be deducted £1 for £1 from your UC monthly entitlement. If you've been claiming the UC for the length of time that your Carers Allowance is expected to be backdated to then you won't be entitled to any backdated money. This is because you will have already received payment for Carers Allowance with your UC and you can't be paid twice.

If Carers Allowance do pay you any backdated money this will be an error and you'll need to contact UC to tell them about this payment. You'll then have an overpayment of your UC amount and it will need to be repaid back.

For your UC do you receive the LCWRA element? If so then does the person who's receiving this payment receive the carers allowance?

rebeccabirch

Well my mum was in the same position and got a backdate and called UC and they said she was entitled to that. So I don’t get how she can get that and I can’t and on the CA website it doesn’t say that?

poppy123456

If your mum claims UC as well as Carers Allowance then it's deducted £1 for £1 in the same way it's deducted £1 for £1 from ESA,JSA and Income Support. Any backdated money received from Carers Allowance will be an overpayment.

If the person that's claiming the carers allowance doesn't receive LCWRA element in with their UC payments then they will be able to claim the Carers element of £160 per month.

See link and scroll down to carers allowance and UC. https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/benefits-entitlements/carers/carers-allowance

Joanne_Alumni

Hi @rebeccabirch.

@Poppy123456 is completely right.

Carers Allowance is deducted £1 for £1 so it will reduce your UC by £66.15 per week. Prior to that, you will have been paid that amount in your UC and you can't be paid twice.

The best number to contact Carers Allowance on if you want to double-check this 0800 7310297 and they are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. It can take a long time to get through!