I'm trying to work out if I'm entitled to carers element backdated or carers allowance backdated

moodyhel

I'm trying to work if if I'm entitled to carers element back dated or carers allowance back dated I'm confused how it works I'm on contribution universal and the person i care for as just been awarded the second rate can you advise me please 

poppy123456

HI,

Your post is rather confusing because there's no such thing as contirbutions universal. I'm also not sure what you mean by the person you care for has been awarded the second rate.

For you to be able to claim the carers element of UC then the person you care for must be claiming either Dailing living PIP, DLA mid/high rate care or Attendance allowance and you must be claiming Universal Credit.

To claim Carers allowance the person you're caring for must be claiming either Dailing living PIP, DLA mid/high rate care or Attendance allowance.

See link for Carers Allowance eligibility criteria. https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

moodyhel

OK thankyou my universal credit is contribution universal credit cause I have worked do they back date carers element

poppy123456

moodyhel said:

OK thankyou my universal credit is contribution universal credit cause I have worked do they back date carers element

No it isn’t because there’s no such thing as contribution universal credit. It’s just Universal Credit. 

Carers element isn’t backdated. If you reported being a carer previously then it maybe backdated. 

Also if you’re claiming the LCWRA for yourself then you won’t be able to claim the carers element at the same time.

Does the person you’re caring for claim a qualifying disability benefit as mentioned above? 

moodyhel

Yes he does I'm just so confused how the carers allowance and the carers element works if you could advise me please

poppy123456

Firstly you need to make sure the person you're considering claiming carers allowance or the carers element of UC for doesn't receive the Severe disability premium (SDP) in another benefit. If they do and you claim either of those benefits for looking after them then they will lose the SDP. This is very important because it's a lot of money for the person to lose each week.

To answer your question if you claim Carers Allowance and UC together the Carers Allowance will be deducted in full from your UC entitlement.

You don't have to claim Carers allowance to be entitled to the carers element, providing you're not claiming the LCWRA element yourself because you can't be paid both together and you'll just receive the higher amount which is the LCWRA element.

moodyhel

OK thankyou  for your help