Universal Credit Migration - Two Parent Caring for one child DLA middle rate

TheHitcher84

Good afternoon all,

I wonder if someone could help or has been in a similar position. My DD is autistic & PDA and has sensory, safety and mobility issues and receives middle rate care component with DLA - both my wife and I share caring responsibility (over 70 hours a week as young DD needs constant supervision and care) - although I am the one who receives carers allowance as the main carer and my wife has/had a part time 16hr week job..

The question is - my wife is having to give up work currently as the demands of being carers is currently outstripping the ability to cope at home - we have also just had a specialist school placement fail on safeguarding concerns (with the school) and no new school place is expected until September 2020 at the earliest.

When my wife finishes at the end of this month and we make the changes with our LA and tax credits (currently get working families and child tax) - I've got a horrible feeling they are going to migrate us across to Universal credit.

When I have completed the entitled to and other checkers online it says that we should both be placed in the exempt from work section due to circumstances but to seek advice first as this might not be the case.

 Does anyone have any experience of a situation like this and how it is handled by the DWP Universal Credit offices where two parents are caring for one child who is classed as severely disabled (under the Universal credit rules) but only one of you gets carers allowance.

What we don't want to happen is for my wife to give up work to focus on demands of caring to then be told she has to work by the Universal Credit people....sort of defeats the purpose and reason of making the change in the first place!


Really grateful for any advice of those who have been in similar. Thank you 

poppy123456

HI and welcome,

Your thoughts are correct and there could be issues here because you are classed as the main carer and it will most likely be up to the work coach what claimant commitments will be given.

There could also be issues of giving up working to claim UC and there would be a sanction for 26 weeks.  If you do claim UC then your wife will need to make sure she tells them that she had no choice because of your child's disability and hopefully there won't be a sanction.

Personally, i'd get some face to face advice from an advice agency near you before doing anything else. Good luck.

Chloe_Scope

Welcome to the community @TheHitcher84! If you need support getting face to face advice then please let us know.