Hi, I'm deelee. If we apply for the carer's element of UC, will this interrupt our other benefits?
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Thanks for replying. We were advised to claim for carers allowance but they did not mention that it gets deducted from our UC. I am very confused 😕.
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Carers Allowance gets deducted in full as unearned income, as per my reply.
You may also be able to claim Carers Element under UC which doesn't get deducted.
Perhaps a benefits calculator might be useful?
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Hi Kimmy87! I have applied for carers allowance on Wednesday as advised by an advisor helping us. My partner claims UC so we're on joint claim as we live together, he is on pip as well. We decided to apply as before this year I wasn't allowed public funds but when we reported I can now claim benefits they put me on work search appointments so I need to attend appointments and search jobs though I'm still employed as a bank carer, I've told them this but they said I still need it. My question is, as I now applied for carers allowance does that mean I don't have to do job search anymore?? Will that automatically be updated? Or I need to message them on my journal? Do I still need to do the job search until my carers allowance application is approved? Thanks in advance.
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Carers allowance is a separate benefit to UC and it's just deducted in full. You need to apply for Carers element because this isn't automatically paid even when you apply for carers allowance.
To apply for the element you need to report a change of circumstances on your journal and then click "caring for someone" they will then include carers element once a decision maker makes their decision.
As a carer you will have no work commitments so won't have to look for work or attend appointments.
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The advisor did not mention carers element, she said we'll get something like that but did not tell me to apply for it. Thanks for that. How long will it take once I report the change in circumstance? Do I still need to do the job searching until they make the decision? Thanks again.
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I can't tell you exactly how long it will take for a decision maker to make the decision on carers element but usually it's quite quick.
Carers allowance could take up to 12 weeks, sometimes longer. Yes, you will need to continue with your commitments until a decision is made on carers element.
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From what I'm understanding here is we did not need to apply for carers allowance as it doesn't really benefit us?? We should have just applied for the carers element as I will not need to continue with my work commitments if we did?? Sorry for asking many questions, it's just all confusing for us and the advisor did not mention carers element.
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So if I don't apply for carers element, I will need to continue with my work commitments even if i get the carers allowance?
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No, you didn't need to apply for carers allowance because it's just deducted in full from UC and then carers allowance will be paid as a separate benefit. You won't be worse or better off by claiming it. You were advised this on here before you claimed it.
However, there are some advantages to claiming it, such as you'll receive class 1 NI credits but for UC it's class 3. If you live in Scotland you'll receive a carers supplement payment twice a year. (please note this payment is not payable if living in other parts of the country) It can also be paid weekly but UC is monthly so it can help to budget a little easier.
As for the carers element, it makes no sense not to claim it because your UC will increase by £198.31/month. You will have no commitments whether it's carers allowance or carers element you're claiming.
Please also be aware that if you did return to work at anytime carers allowance has a maximum earnings limit, which is £151/week at the moment. There's no earnings limit to carers element.
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Yeah sorry about that. it's just all confusing for us so we just listened to the advisor when she said apply for carers allowance.
That's my next question if I'm allowed to work?? I am doing few hours of work a week coz of our situation,kids and partner needs me, so I keep to that £400 work allowance as they deduct our uc if I earn more. Will it still be the same situation? We won't get deducted if I only earn £400a month?? We've asked the advisor but haven't been in touch. Thanks again for answering my questions.
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You're welcome. Yes you'll still have the work allowance, which is £404/month if you claim for help with your rent. When you applied for carers allowance, did you tell them that you're working?
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Yes we get help with rent. Yes I told the advisor as she did the online application for us. Anything wrong??
We asked her if I can continue to work but she wasn't sure, at first she told me to resign immediately from work then she said she'll ask a colleague and return to us but we haven't heard from her yet.
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You don’t need to resign from work and you can continue as you always do. You just need to make sure your earnings are not more than £151/week after deductions. If they do then entitlement to carers allowance will stop.
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Thank you very much for your help.
Just one more will carers element be backdated?
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