Can carers element be backdated?

can1995

Hi everyone, I've just signed up because I'm struggling to find answers anywhere! I recently got carers allowance and got a back payment to when I started giving care. I got a notification from UC today that they're gonna be taking back almost all of that amount because it's an overpayment as Carers Allowance wasn't applied to my entitlement.

I can't fight this because I believe they're right by their rules, however can I look into a backdated payment of carers element to help me have any money at all? I know that it can come off month by month and I won't be sending them the whole chunk back but I just struggled to find answers online about carers element. I had to fight them even to have carers element on my account so very nervous to make any journal entries! 

calcotti

They should backdate the carer element to the assessment period in which the Carers Allowance starts from. 

can1995

calcotti said:

They should backdate the carer element to the assessment period in which the Carers Allowance starts from. 

I saw on the Carers UK website that you can ask for it to be backdated, I've had a lot of trouble with Universal Credit over this but I've left a message on my journal all the same! Do you think I should ask for a mandatory reconsideration if they deny my request to have it backdated?

poppy123456

Yes, request the MR if they refuse to back date it.

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

Yes, request the MR if they refuse to back date it.

Endorsed. It's absolutely clear. If you have established an entitlement to CA by getting an award then they should change the UC award to include the carer element.