Help … newby carer

beehappy

Hi. I’m hoping to get some help as I can’t get through the maze. Sadly an ex is in very poor mental heath after multiple attempted suicides from Dec. He was still working until Feb, onto statutory sick pay for 3 weeks of Jan until a sick note as unfit to work from Feb. He applied for UC after the sick note. I was not aware of a UC50 form on his journal, nor that Discretionary Housing was separate to the council. There are now 2 months of debt as no UC was only paid in Mar less the Statutory Sick Pay. Jan SSP didn’t cover bills, Feb nothing and 1st payment in Mar. I’ve completed all the forms now. Does anyone know if the DHP and LCWRF are backed dated today try and recover the 2 months debt?  How can you deal with the debt after a complete breakdown on their behalf? There are 4 credit cards that have cash advances to cover the rent and bills. 

Next up= I’ve been told of carer finance support. I can’t understand the difference in carers element or carers allowance?  I have UC for myself on LCW but am self employed so all extra income just comes off the UC. My income has halved as been having to cancel work to go and help for 2 months. Is there any help I can get that won’t just be deducted as I’ve cleaned out my savings now to help him and literally don’t have extra to get down 60 miles to help him. I’m so overwhelmed with this all as when it’s crisis states there is no time to try Google help, so you give up and try battling on. 

Any help, advise or sanity saving tips most welcome as I’m so desperate now. 

Thanks !

poppy123456

If hes found to have LCWRA then the extra money is paid from the 4th month after they reported the health condition. It's not paid at all during the 3 month waiting period.

For you to be able to claim Carers element of UC then he will need to be in claiming either PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care. If he's not claiming either of those then you won't be able to claim carers element.

If he's renting his home then housing element can be claimed as part of Universal Credit.

Discretionary housing payment can be claimed from the Local Authority.

calcotti

If awarded, and it may take several months to get a decision, the LCWRA element of UC is payable from the fourth payment of UC.

I think the DHP from the council is unlikely to be backdated unless you requested that it cover arrears.

Have you applied for Council Tax Reduction from the council?

As you claim UC you would simply need to declare on your UC journal that you are a carer and the carer element will be added to your claim. There is no advantage claiming Carer's Allowance because it will simply be deducted from your UC (If you can more than £132/week you cannot claim CA anyway but there is no such restriction for the carer element of UC).

However you mention LCW. Are you actually receiving the LCWRA element? If so then you cannot be paid the carer element.

Alex_Alumni

Hello there @beehappy and thanks for reaching out today. I'm sorry to hear about what's been happening with your ex since last year, and what's been happening with you as well. 

I'd just like to check something you've mentioned at the start of your post about your ex, can you tell me if he's currently being supported with his mental health at the moment? 

We'd like to support you both as much as we are able to, so I'll be emailing you from community@scope.org.uk a little later this afternoon. Please do keep an eye out for that email, and I'm sure our members can help support and advise you in the meantime.

beehappy

wow wow … thank you everyone! I’ll reply en masse as I’m not a tech, online person so no idea how to reply individually.  I’ve done UC50, DHP, Council tax reduction. Awaiting response on all, except the council tax which was approved and reduced. I’m sad to see that LCWRF is from month 4, god knows how you live until then without masses of savings. This is burnout from 14 hours working days, 5-6 days a week, relentless. But, my rant, as long as we keep working and paying taxes, then we ignore you when you need help! Hey Ho. 

So, at least, I can just hope that there is a human in the UC50 department that awards this so that going forward is less financial stress and debt. 

I am self employed, on UC with LCW but still working. He isn’t on PIP and the stress of assesment would kill him. Bad enough times getting other forms done. 

If, a giant if, PIP was done, how does carers element of UC work, will it just be added to my self employed earnings (Ie income) which just gets deducted off the UC amount - Ie you get nothing anyway. Rob Peter to pay Paul scenario? Is there any other financial support through other means until the LCWRF is or isn’t done?
super thanks again .. in advance. 

beehappy

I’m not sure what DLA is, I thought UC did away with that if you were on UC?

poppy123456

The waiting period has always applied and was exactly the same for ESA. Paying your taxes has nothing to do with that.

If an application for PIP is made and they are awarded at least daily living PIP then you can claim carers element. It's added to your UC entitlement and will increase your maximum UC entitlement by £168.81 per month.

As you have LCW then you'll also have the work allowance which means a certain amount of earnings each month are ignored before the 55% deductions apply.

DLA replaced PIP, both are nothing to do with UC and are not part of it.

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

DLA replaced PIP, 

Typo, DLA was replaced by PIP (although some existing DLA claimants still get it).

poppy123456

Duh, i don't even know why i did that thanks calcotti.

beehappy

Thanks to you both. I’m still a bit confused though. I understand he has to get PIP or there is no carer element. If he does - does the extra £168.81 go into my self employed income, or does £168.81 get added to my UC entitlement. Ie do I get extra money in the bank, or is it just taken off somewhere else?

poppy123456

The carers element will be added to your UC entitlement. As advised here.

poppy123456 said:

 It's added to your UC entitlement and will increase your maximum UC entitlement by £168.81 per month.

calcotti

beehappy said:.. does the extra £168.81 go into my self employed income, or does £168.81 get added to my UC entitlement.

It's the latter. It is an extra element in the calculation of your maximum UC amount. As already advised

poppy123456 said:..you can claim carers element. It's added to your UC entitlement and will increase your maximum UC entitlement by £168.81 per month. 

beehappy

Super, thanks for the clarification. Any ideas how long they take to assess the UC50 for LCWRF?

calcotti

The claimant will usually be called for an assessment before a decision is made. The wait time varies but can be several months.