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New to benefits. UC and carers allowance question

F123

Hi im new to claiming benefits and would like to know if carers allowance is paid separately into your bank account or if it's all rolled into one with universal credit and carers element?
Q2. If the person I'm caring for gets approved for pension credit will I lose the carers allowance and/or the carers element of Universal Credit? I'm finding it all quite confusing

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calcotti

Carer’s Allowance is paid separately (but deducted from your UC).

If the person you care for gets Pension Credit that does not affect your UC or Carers Allowance. However if they live alone they would get more Pension Credit if you were not claiming CA or the carer element of UC.

F123

Thank you for the reply^. I'm reading up about carers allowance and was under the impression that my claim for Carer's Allowance and additional UC carers element would change/lose it if the person I'm caring for is eligible for pension credit?

calcotti

F123 said:

Thank you for the reply^. I'm reading up about carers allowance and was under the impression that my claim for Carer's Allowance and additional UC carers element would change/lose it if the person I'm caring for is eligible for pension credit?

No. You’ve misunderstood what you have read. However, as per my previous reply, if they live alone the person you care for will have less Pension Credit entitlement if you are receiving CA or the carer element of UC.

poppy123456

F123 said:

Thank you for the reply^. I'm reading up about carers allowance and was under the impression that my claim for Carer's Allowance and additional UC carers element would change/lose it if the person I'm caring for is eligible for pension credit?

That's not correct. As calcotti mentioned above, if they currently live alone (or classed as living alone) the Pension Credit could include the Severe disability Premium but if you claim the above then they won't be entitled to the SDP.

Whether they're entitled to pension credit will depend on their circumstances.

F123

Thank you both for your replies. I live with the person I'm caring for and they receive the higher amount for Attendance Allowance. Is SDP not an option if I'm living with the person? Should I stop carers allowance to enable them to receive a higher pension credit? I'm so sorry if these are stupid questions but I'm new to claiming anything

calcotti

They are not stupid questions.

What is your relationship with the person you care for? Do you get a disability benefit yourself? I assume not as you say you are new to claiming anything.

F123

calcotti said:

They are not stupid questions.

What is your relationship with the person you care for?

My mother and I've had my identity appointment today for UC and based on that expect to receive standard allowance over 25s and the carers element as part of UC. I'm also awaiting feedback on my claim for Carer's Allowance.

calcotti

In that case she is not eligible for the SDP in the PC calculation so you claiming CA and/or the carer element of UC will not make any difference to whether or not she is entitled to any PC.

F123

As blunt as it may sound do you know how much carers allowance I would receive after claiming UC+ carers element?

calcotti

Carer’s Allowance is £****.70/week. It will be deducted from your UC.
You cannot claim CA if you are working and earn more than £132/week. There is no earnings limit for the carer element of UC.
For UC if you are age 25 or over you will get the standard allowance of £334.91/month and the carer element £168.81/month. If you claim CA this will be deducted (at £302.03/month)

F123

So if my UC + carers element is monthly £503.75 do I get a separate carers allowance payment or is it solely the £503.75 in its entirety?

poppy123456

Your total amount will be £503.75 per month. The carers allowance of £****.70 will be deducted in full from your UC (£303 deducted) the carers allowance will then be paid either weekly or 4 weekly whichever you chose when you claimed it. UC is paid monthly.

There’s no financial gain to claiming Carers allowance as well as UC.

calcotti

F123 said:

So if my UC + carers element is monthly £503.75 do I get a separate carers allowance payment or is it solely the £503.75 in its entirety?

You get CA, usually paid every 4 weeks (£278.80).
As advised above in my earlier replies the CA is deducted from the UC (at £302.03/month) so the monthly UC payment would only be £201.72/month. The combined total is £503.75/month.

F123

Thank you both.
Another sticky question.
If became clear today that the account number on my debit card doesn't match the account number on my statements. It is a misprint on the physical card as the sort code is the same. I'm going to get in touch with my bank about this as it was their mistake which has caused me some aggravation as a result. The UC team now have my correct details but will I have to contact the carers allowance team/different address to jobs and benefits office or will they know through the UC claim that it has been rectified?

poppy123456

You will need to contact Carers allowance because they are different departments.

F123

Thanks Poppy.
May I also ask, since carers allowance is backdated but UC isn't, will my application still be backdated even though UC are now taking carers allowance into account in my claim?

calcotti

Yes, the CA can still be backdated. If the backdated CA covers a period when you were already receiving UC then the UC for that period will be recalculated and you will have been overpaid UC which they will recover from future payments.

F123

Thanks Calcotti. In the backdated period I wasn't claiming UC so hopefully it'll be worked out accordingly

calcotti

Any CA for periods prior to your UC claim will have no impact on the UC.

F123

When the person I'm caring for hears back about whether they are entitled to pension credit do I have to report it to carers allowance and UC if the judgement is no?