Little bit confused about carers element

MissKatie
MissKatie Posts: 2 Listener
edited September 8 in Benefits and income

Hey all,

On the 10th August I updated my online DWP journal to confirm that I am have been caring for someone since May, for 35+ hours a week. I meet the requirements to claim carers element of universal credit.

Within an hour I was given the status where I no longer have to look for employment.

It's now a full month later and I've still had no confirmation or rejection of this. When I asked them they told me they are

"We are currently awaiting information that has been requested to verify the caring activities. This information must be received and reviewed before we can continue"

I asked them if they needed any information from me, they told me they did not.

I've asked them again today and they sent me essentially the same message.

Is it normal for them to take a month for this? If they do miss September's carer element payment will the have to backdate that?

Thanks all, I'm just a little confused by all this and what I'm meant to do going forward.

Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Posts: 6,363 Championing

    Hi,

    It's worth noting Carers Allowance and Carers Element are totally different benefits.

    If you get Carers Allowance then UC will check with them. If you don't get CA then UC will check with yours Caree's qualifying benefit provider, such as PIP or DLA. It does take time unfortunately, there's nothing more you can do at the moment.

    Yes, they will backdate it if it's not in payment by the end of the AP.

  • MissKatie
    MissKatie Posts: 2 Listener

    Ah thank you.

    I was sure I put carers element in the title but then realised afterwards and couldn't edit it or delete it.

    This is definitely carers element I am claiming for. I am not claiming carers allowance.

    Roughly any idea how long it takes them to get the information? You'd think a month would be plenty.

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Posts: 9,024 Championing

    There are so many variables that unfortunately we can't answer that question from here.

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 4,670 Online Community Team

    Hi @MissKatie, I've just edited your title to carers element.

    It is difficult to say how long it will take as it depends on their workload. Sorry we are not able to be more specific. Hopefully it won't take much longer.

  • louisowen01
    louisowen01 Posts: 7 Listener
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/148852/little-bit-confused-about-carers-element

    DWP is painfully slow with this, so try not to worry—it’s just classic bureaucracy.

    They're just doing internal checks to verify that the person you care for gets a qualifying benefit (like PIP). Since they said they don't need anything from you, you're fine.

    Yes, it will be backdated to when you reported the change. Just drop a quick note in your Journal under "Payments" every week or two for a paper trail. You've done everything right!

  • Emilee
    Emilee Posts: 131 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1148481#Comment_1148481

    @MissKatie, it is quite unusual for it to take this long as it is a largely automated process. When you answered the questions about the person you are caring for, are you certain there were no errors (such as the rate they receive or typos in their name)? As you also certain that no one else is claiming Carer's Allowance or the caring element of UC for caring for them?

    One final note: If approved, it should be backdated to the assessment period you reported the change in. How long after the 10th August did your assessment period end?

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