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Could my parents who are pension age claim the carers element of UC?

bobby123bobby123 Member Posts: 10 Listener
edited April 12 in Universal Credit
I currently get lcwra UC and pip standard daily allowance, my parents look after me but they are retired and get state pension can they apply for the carers element of if and also can I get this backdated from when my pip started in April 2020
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  • janer1967janer1967 Member Posts: 9,276 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi and welcome 

    According to the Internet you can't get carers if on state pension however it does say to apply as they may get additional pension credit or housing benefit 

    Any further questions just ask 
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  • bobby123bobby123 Member Posts: 10 Listener
    I know you can't get carers allowance and state pension at the same time.

    Is that the same with carers element of uc and state pension?
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  • janer1967janer1967 Member Posts: 9,276 Disability Gamechanger
    The carers element is claimed by the person providing the care not the person getting care 

    So as your parents look after you and get pension they won't be claiming uc 
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  • Cher_ScopeCher_Scope Posts: 3,404

    Scope community team
    edited April 11
    Hi @bobby123

    In addition to the above - you can find out what benefits your parents would be entitled to on this Carers UK 'Benefits for carers of pension age' webpage.  Or you could use Scope's Benefits calculator too.

    I've moved this post to our Universal Credit category and tweaked the title to help others spot what it's about.  Please do let us know if you have any further questions and have a nice rest of the day. 
    Online Community Co-ordinator

    Want to tell us about your experience on the online community?  Talk to our chatbot and let us know.
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  • calcotticalcotti Member Posts: 1,251 Pioneering
    You parents can claim Carer's Allowance but cannot be paid it. By claiming they would establish an 'underlying entitlement'. This means that any means tested benefits they claim would include a carer premium. If they receive Pension Credit this would increase the Pension Credit payable.

    No point in claiming if they are not eligible for means tested benefits. As Cher suggests you could use a calculator to see if they are eligible.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • calcotticalcotti Member Posts: 1,251 Pioneering
    bobby123 said:
    I know you can't get carers allowance and state pension at the same time.

    Is that the same with carers element of uc and state pension?
    Someone receivingState Pension could have the carer element if they were also claiming Universal Credit because part of a mixed age couple. However this isn't relevant to your situation.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • mikehughescqmikehughescq Member Posts: 6,001 Disability Gamechanger
    There are limited circs in which you can get SRP and CA at the same time.
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  • calcotticalcotti Member Posts: 1,251 Pioneering
    edited April 11
    mikehughescq said:
    There are limited circs in which you can get SRP and CA at the same time.
    Presumably if their State Pension is worth less than Carer’s Allowance in which they would get a CA top up, but such cases must be rare.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • bobby123bobby123 Member Posts: 10 Listener
    My parents get full state pension does this mean no carers allowance or carers element.

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  • calcotticalcotti Member Posts: 1,251 Pioneering
    edited April 11
    bobby123 said:
    My parents get full state pension does this mean no carers allowance or carers element.
    It certainly means they cannot be paid Carer’s Allowance. Whether or not there is any entitlement to means tested benefits that could include a carer premium depends on their circumstances. 

    Carer element refers to UC and, as already advised, they cannot claim UC because they are pension age.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • mikehughescqmikehughescq Member Posts: 6,001 Disability Gamechanger
    calcotti said:
    mikehughescq said:
    There are limited circs in which you can get SRP and CA at the same time.
    Presumably if their State Pension is worth less than Carer’s Allowance in which they would get a CA top up, but such cases must be rare.
    Not as rare as you would think. Exacerbated by recent revelations about SRP underpayments. 
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