UC with carers element and self employment.

lp57
lp57 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
edited September 17 in Benefits and income

Hi everyone.

My son is currently my full time carer and is claiming UC and carers allowance. He wants to start up a p/t ebay business. He has been on UC for almost a year and we have read about something called the Minimum income floor. Will this apply to him if he is a carer? Also, will he have to attend the jobcentre or look for other work if he does this? He currently has no work commitments and I need him around as much as possible due to my conditions.

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  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 11,074 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi there @lp57 and welcome to the community. 😊

    I'm afraid this is a bit too complex for my limited knowledge, but I've tagged your question as "Unanswered" so hopefully one of our super smart regulars with see and be able to give you the answers soon. I hope that's ok?

  • lp57
    lp57 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener

    Thank you

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,004 Championing

    Hi,

    As he claims the Carers Element of UC, that removes all work related requirements. So there will not be a minimum income floor and he will not be expected to look for more work in this case.

    He will have to inform UC of his new business and provide income figures at the end of each assessment period. If he gets help with housing costs, this income won't his affect his UC unless he earns more than £411 in an assessment period.

    If he also gets Carers Allowance as a separate benefit to UC, the rules are different for that, with a maximum income allowance of £196 a week.

  • lp57
    lp57 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener

    Thank you so much for that information. He lives at home with me and is my full time carer. He doesn't receive any help with rent. Just I think its £240 UC a month and his carers allowance each week.

    Thank you again. It's so difficult to find enough information online.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,004 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1068405#Comment_1068405

    No problem. As he doesn't receive Housing Costs, then the work allowance is higher, he will be allowed up to £684 a month in income before that would affect his UC.

  • lp57
    lp57 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener

    Thank you. So it that what he can earn each month, before it affects his carers allowance?

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 6,936 Championing

    No, it's how much he can earn before his Universal Credit award is affected.

  • lp57
    lp57 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener

    Thank you. I am a little confused. So he can earn up to £196 per week and receive his weekly carers allowance. However he will receive no UC for that month, if this happens.

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 6,936 Championing
    edited September 17

    Each month he can earn £684 before any deduction is made to his UC award.

    For each pound earned over that amount, UC will deduct 55p from his UC award.

  • lp57
    lp57 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener

    Thank you. So if he earned £684 in a month. He would still get his £240 a month universal credit and receive his carers allowance each week. Sorry for all the questions, its just a bit confusing. 🙂

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 6,936 Championing

    Yes that's correct.

  • lp57
    lp57 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener

    Thank you so much, for taking the time to get back to me, and for the information.

    It's appreciated.

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