Carers element

loccy

I’ve been caring for my husband since January 2019 but have just found out that I can get carers element of uc as it’s down on uc that I’m a carer for this person will it be backdated from when I first applied January 2019 uc didn’t know why I hadn’t been paid any money

poppy123456

You can only claim carers element if your husband is either in receipt of PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care. 
If he does then you need to report a change of circumstances and tell them you care for him for at least 35 hours per week. 

You must also not be claiming the LCWRA element for yourself because you can’t claim both elements together. 

mrsj42

My daughter is my carer and on u.c, she claims both carers and carers element. What she loses through u.c through deductions, she makes up for with the carers element payment. They don’t widely advertise it according to the person my daughter spoke with so I’m not surprised you didn’t know at first either.

calcotti

mrsj42 said:

My daughter is my carer and on u.c, she claims both carers and carers element. What she loses through u.c through deductions, she makes up for with the carers element payment. They don’t widely advertise it according to the person my daughter spoke with so I’m not surprised you didn’t know at first either.

The deduction for Carers Allowance is more than the carer element. The total benefit received with the carer element is the same regardless of whether or not Carers Allowance is being claimed.

mrsj42

Well when my daughter received her carers allowance, the same amount was then deducted from her universal credit. She spoke with her advisor who told her about carers element. She claimed it, and is now receiving the amount she would have received if she hadn’t had deductions made for claiming carers allowance. 🤷🏼‍♀️

loccy

Ok thanks I don’t claim 
LCWRA so that will be fine 

loccy

I’ve got carers element now but if they back date it it’s a mother thing as this has been going on since I first claimed in 2017 

poppy123456

mrsj42 said:

Well when my daughter received her carers allowance, the same amount was then deducted from her universal credit. She spoke with her advisor who told her about carers element. She claimed it, and is now receiving the amount she would have received if she hadn’t had deductions made for claiming carers allowance. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Carers allowance is always deducted £1 for £1 from any UC entitlement. 

You don’t need to claim carers allowance to be entitled to carers element. 

Her UC amount should still be less because of the CA deductions but her overall benefit entitlement would be the same, even if she didn’t claim carers allowance. 

jamrumples

@poppy123456 can you be down as someone’s carer but not be forced to claim any carers allowance or element? 

Like someone can change their circumstances on their UC claim to caring for someone for 35 hours a week but not claim anything for it? Just their regular UC amount? 

Or to be seen as a carer you have to have some kind of claim in place? Seems all very unfair to take away money from that person when they are already struggling. But they need the help etc…

calcotti

See also thread here https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/96519/carers-allowance-and-council-tax#latest with duplicate question.

poppy123456

It starts to get very confusing when asking questions on other threads. It would be better to stick to your thread for the your questions.

I think it's unlikely. However if they are caring then they can claim carers element. (providing they are not receiving LCWRA)

jamrumples said:

Seems all very unfair to take away money from that person when they are already struggling. But they need the help etc…

If you are talking about the carers allowance being deducted from the UC then they are not losing anything because they will then be paid the carers allowance separately. As advised, there's no financial gain to claiming Carers allowance at the same time.

Are they claiming UC as a couple? Is this about yourself or someone else?