Can I claim PIP , LCWRA and carers allowance at the same time

AC245867
AC245867 Online Community Member Posts: 16 Listener
Hi everyone I hope you are all well.

I wanted to know if you can claim LCWRA and carers Allowance at the same time??
(while on a joint universal credit claim)

I already claim pip for myself and I also receive carers allowance for caring for my
incredibly sick son

my wife also claims carers allowance for caring for our daughter.

is it possible to claim LCWRA , PIP and carers allowance while on a joint universal credit claim??






Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,381 Championing
    When claiming UC there's no financial gain to claiming carers allowance at the same time because it's deducted in full from any UC entitlement. There's no rules against the same person claiming carers allowance and LCWRA at the same time.

    What is prevented is the same person claiming carers element and LCWRA at the same time. If found to have LCWRA then you will be paid the highest element, which would be LCWRA.
  • AC245867
    AC245867 Online Community Member Posts: 16 Listener
    Thank you poppy for your reply it really is much appreciated.

    It’s been a dark world for our little family and recently it got a lot darker as We recently lost our beautiful son age 17 after a brutal seven year battle against cancer he died in my our arms in July 2023.
    We also have a younger son that suffers from prolonged epilepsy and he is also severely autistic(non verbal) a few months ago he had a seizure that last over 4 hours he was stuck into an induced coma because he stop breathing but after a few days in intensive care he did pull through.

    since our eldest son past away it started a snow ball effect around our benefits , we just received a £5500 fine from tax credits apparently for a mistake we made in 2018 , they our taking the money back each month from our UC.


    - we have a joint UC claim

    - I received pip and carers allowance for my youngest son

    - my partner receives carers allowance for our daughter that also suffer from a genetic disorder.

    -my key-worker keeps telling me to claim for LCWRA but I don’t want to get into trouble.

    My mental state is at an all time low, 


    in your opinion is it worth me claimImg for LCWRA ??

    just really looking for help and guidance


  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,381 Championing
    I'm so sorry for your loss, that is incredibily sad!

    To be clear about the carers allowance, it's a separate benefit to UC and it's just deducted in full from your UC entitlement. 

    Carers element is part of UC and totally separate to carers allowance. Does your UC also include 2 carers elements? This is £185.86/month. Please check your UC statements to see what exactly is included.

    As i advised above, you can claim the LCWRA element but your carers element will stop because the same person can receive both elements. If you go through the work capability assessment and found to have LCWRA then you will be £204.20/month better off from the 4th month after you reported your health condition. LCWRA is £390.06/month.

    Whether you should report your health condition and go through the WCA is entirely your decision. If you think you qualify for LCWRA then yes, otherwise no because it's an awful lot of stress to go through. If found to have LCW there's no extra money each month. You can see the descriptors here, only one needs to apply. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity




  • AC245867
    AC245867 Online Community Member Posts: 16 Listener
    I just checked and you our spot on,

    on our UC award it says we are entitled to

    - standard allowance 
    ( you said you are in a couple)

    -housing

    - children
    (you get support for 1 child)

    disabled children 
    ( you said that you have one disabled child)

    carer £185.86
    ( caring for someone)




    I actually have gone through the work cabaility already, like I said my mental state is at an all time low, iv been receiving alot of intervention from professionals over recent years, I’m actually due a LCWRA assessment video call this Friday, but now I’m thinking is it worth it.
    I hate the thought of not being my youngest sons carer.


    This May sound like a silly question,  if I went for LCWRA and was Awarded it would I still be my sons carer, I know the carers allowance would stop money wise but would I still be his carer on paper??


    it’s so stressful knowing what is the right thing to do
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,381 Championing
    You keep referring to it as carers allowance but that’s a different benefit,
    which you can claim separately but there’s no overall financial gain to claiming it.

    You say your younger son and daughter both claim disability benefits. Are you claiming the child element for both of those children? Or has the one left education? 

    How many carers elements are included with your claim? It should be 2. 

    As you haven’t yet had your WCA it
    means you’re currently going through it, rather than been through it.

    If you’re found to have LCWRA then you can still be a carer for your child but you won’t receive anything extra for this because of the LCWRA element. You don’t need to be claiming anything to be someone’s carer. 
  • AC245867
    AC245867 Online Community Member Posts: 16 Listener
    Thank you poppy for your patience
    and apologies yes you are right, I’m currently going through the assessment , rather then been thought it.


    yes both children claim disability benefits but we only claim the child element for one child ( our youngest son)
    our Daughter has left education and home so she claim for her own disability benefits. 
    I hope that makes sense.


  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,381 Championing
    That makes sense now, thank you. What about carers element, there should be 2 on your claim, not one, you didn't answer that question.

    Does your UC also include the disabled child element for your son? What DLA/PIP award does he have? If it includes either High rate care DLA or Enhanced daily living PIP then your UC should also include the higher disabled child element £456.89/month. If it's any other award then it will be just the lower disabled child element £146.31/month.

    Sorry for all the questions but i'm just trying to make sure that your UC claim is correct, i can't tell you the amount of times they get things wrong.
  • AC245867
    AC245867 Online Community Member Posts: 16 Listener
    Yes it dose , it’s like you said £456.89 for a Disabled child.

    And again apologies poppy you are so right and we didn’t even notice, up into October 2023 we was getting carers element for 2 on our claim giving us £371.72 for carers a month but for some reason this month (November statement ) is showing an element for only 1 what is completely wrong.

    my partner had an appointment at the job centre last week and they said when they were updated our circumstances that I was down for carering for both children what ever that means but the lady said she would correct it, so hopefully December statement will be back to normal and show that there should be 2 for carers element.

    so to recap for the month of November only we only received only 1 for carers element at  £185.86 when in fact we should of received as normal 2 carer elements at £371.72


    honestly poppy please don’t apologies , I’m so greatful for all the questions and by all the questions it definitely looks like UC got the carer element wrong last month.


    so bringing me back to your first question for carers element we claim for 2 at £371.72


    again I hope this makes sense 

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,381 Championing
    That makes sense. This means that any money they owe you will be paid separately to your usual monthly money. If you don’t receive it within the next few weeks please leave a message on your journal under the payment section and enquire about it. They aren’t always very quick in sorting out those payments. 

    Just to recap if you’re found to have LCWRA the one carers element will be removed and you’ll receive the LCWRA element instead. 
  • AC245867
    AC245867 Online Community Member Posts: 16 Listener
    Than you poppy for all your help you have been absolutely lovely
  • sai87
    sai87 Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener

    Hi Poppy, Is this still the case in December 2024. Previously I was claiming LCWRA and Carers Allowance. My UC/LCWRA that I would get say e.g - £400pm after receiving Carers Allowance for e.g - £200pm

    UC shows we are paying you Cares Allowance £200pm and UC £200pm equals back to £400pm but they do state that “we are paying you Care Allowance” and deduct the £200 from my £400 which I’m left with £200 UC and £200 CA

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,381 Championing

    Yes the same rules still apply. When claiming carers allowance (which is a separate benefit to UC) the amount deducted from UC is £354.90/month. You will then receive carers allowance as a separate payment, either weekly or 4 weekly.

    If you're UC includes the LCWRA element for yourself, you can't receive carers element of UC (different to carers allowance) at the same time. In this case only the higher element is paid, which is LCWRA