Hi there….any universal credit boffins out there!??

CarrieB75

We as a family receive UC, I receive the LCWRA element/our child receives the disability element, my husband works in an office and was expecting/hoping to be able to work from home in the light of the current surge in covid cases/positive cases in his work place (to protect myself and our child whom are both immune compromised) however, he has recently been informed that he has to remain in the office for at least the next 3 months, so this has put us in a really difficult position. My husband is now searching for a similar job that does allow remote working, so our question is, much would we be penalised re Universal credit if my other half didn’t manage to find a new position before leaving his current one? Sorry if it’s a difficult question…….thanks so much advance. Kind regards Carrie 

poppy123456

Hi,
I note you receive the disability element for your child. If your child receives DLA mid/high rate care then your partner can claim the carers element for their self, therefore there would be no sanctions if they quit their job because there would be no work related requirements when being a carer. 

If they don’t already claim it then they should report the changes onto their journal and your UC will increase by £163 per month. 

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

If they don’t claim it then they should report the changes onto their journal and your UC will increase by £163 per month. 

To be clear, did you mean “If they don’t already claim it..”

poppy123456

@calcotti yes that was a typo, thanks for that. To save confusion I will edit my comment. 

CarrieB75

Thanks so much for the fast reply Poppy! Much appreciated. Wow, sounds like really know your stuff! Our child receives both lower rates DLA (unfortunately in this case)….so think that may leave us high and dry! 

poppy123456

This means that your partner will not be able to claim the carers element. Whether there would be a sanction if your partner quit their job i don't know but with yourself and child being EV then this maybe good reason but it's likely down to a decision maker to make that decision.

CarrieB75

Thanks again Poppy….yes, I thought as much and I dare say that the decision makers may  very well not deem it as a ‘good reason’ (even though in my humble opinion….it bloomin is!) 😊

poppy123456

Just another thought, do you receive either PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care for yourself? If you do then your partner will still be able to claim carers element for caring for you.

CarrieB75

Yes Poppy…I receive PIP, daily living and mobility, but unfortunately they are the lower amount also (thank you again) 😊

poppy123456

For PIP, it's only standard or Enhanced. Either part of daily living PIP will allow your partner to claim the carers element of UC which as advised will increase your UC by £163.73 per month. Claiming this will mean your partner will not be sanctioned for giving up their job, i'd advise your partner to report the changes onto their journal and to make sure they do this before doing anything else.

Please see link for confirmation.. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Caring-overview-Universal-Credit

If you and/or your partner care for a severely disabled adult or severely disabled child for 35 hours a week or more, and you are eligible for Universal Credit, you may qualify for extra money called the Carer element. The severely disabled person doesn't have to be living with you but must be getting one of the following:

• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (at either middle or higher rate care component)
• Personal Independence Payment (at either standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component)

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

Just another thought, do you receive either PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care for yourself? If you do then your partner will still be able to claim carers element for caring for you.

That was a good spot. (So difficult to give correct advice without complete information.)

CarrieB75

Apologies Poppy, only just seen this! This could be very very good news for us, thank you so much, can’t tell you how relived I am and how much pressure that would take off my husband to find a new job before leaving this one (normally, timing wouldn’t matter) but like I mentioned previously, it’s just a matter of time before he’s bringing covid home with him. You’ve been a fantastic help….can’t thank you enough! 🙏🏼 😊🙏🏼

CarrieB75

Oh, just one more questions (sorry)…..I’ve just seen that my husband earns over the amount that is allowed to claim Carers allowance on UC, so are we ‘allowed’ to apply for Carers Allowance now whilst he’s still in that job? (he’s decided to hand his notice in today or tomorrow as another two positive cases have just been confirmed in the office) Thank you in advance once again 😊

poppy123456

Carers Allowance is totally different to Carers element of UC. For Carers allowance there's an earnings limit of £128 per week after deductions. https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility which was one of the reasons i didn't advise it to be claimed.

For Carers element there's no earnings limit and you don't need to claim carers allowance to claim it. As advised, your partner needs to report a change on their journal that they care for you for at least 35 hours per week and then the Carers element will be added to your claim which is £163.73 per month.

calcotti

He could have been claiming the carer element of UC ever since you were awarded daily living PIP.

poppy123456

calcotti said:

He could have been claiming the carer element of UC ever since you were awarded daily living PIP.

Indeed. Yet another claimant not receiving all the benefits they are entitled to.

CarrieB75

Well wow, thank you so much and I’m genuinely astonished that we have been entitled to the Carers element of UC all along!! 

Interestingly, my husband has always ticked the ‘yes’ option on the online UC forms that ask if he cares for anyone (whenever UC prompts us to keep our details up to date) 
We will apply for it now then. Thanks so much again Poppy and Calcotti! 🙏🏼😊🙏🏼

CarrieB75

Honesty Libby, this information has been invaluable to our family. Thanks so much! 

calcotti

CarrieB75 said: Interestingly, my husband has always ticked the ‘yes’ option on the online UC forms that ask if he cares for anyone (whenever UC prompts us to keep our details up to date) 

If you have been getting PIP throughout then he could go back and say "I first told you that I cared for my wife on xxx. She gets the Daily Living component of PIP and I believe that I am therefore entitled to the carer element from the date I first told you I cared for her."

If the PIP was awarded later then it would be  "I first told you that I cared for my wife on xxx. She was awarded the Daily Living component of PIP from and I believe that I am therefore entitled to the carer element from that date."

CarrieB75

Thanks very much Calcotti, we will do!….so to clarify, my husband is to go into his UC account, then ‘report a change’ in his journal to inform of his carer role 👍

calcotti

If he has already told them he is a carer then he shouldn’t  need to report a change but he does need to ask why he has not been getting the carer element.

Did he first say he was caring for you when you initially claimed UC? Were you getting Daily Living PIP at the time and if so did you record it?

if it wasn’t when you initially claimed how did he first report that he was caring for you and did they know you were getting PIP!