Disabled child element of universal credit

trudiw80
trudiw80 Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener
edited April 2024 in Universal Credit (UC)
Hello all I'm new to this group and just wondered if any of you could offer some advice please?
My daughter has ASD and was awarded the higher components of pip in December 2022, now I do eceive carers allowance but I wondered if I should also be receiving the disabled child element of universal credit? I have done a couple of benefit checkers and it seems so but when I have previously asked uc they have said no. Really don't know what to do  can anybody offer any insight please?
Many thanks

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    If you're still claiming the child element for her then yes, you should also be claiming the disabled child element. If her PIP includes the Enhanced daily living then you should be receiving the higher disabled child element, which is due to increase to £487.58/month because of the annual increase. It would have been slightly less than this in previous years. 

    Put a message onto your journal under the payment section and ask about the disabled child element and tell them that you haven't been receiving this. This will of course stop once she leaves full time non advanced education or the September following her 19th birthday, which ever comes sooner. 
  • trudiw80
    trudiw80 Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener
    Thanks very much for your advice, I have done as you suggested thanks again x
  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,784 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    Hiya @trudiw80 and welcome to the community!

    I can see Poppy has already answered your question, but I just wanted to stop in and say hello. :)
  • trudiw80
    trudiw80 Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener
    Hi thanks for the welcoming message 
  • trudiw80
    trudiw80 Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener
    Hello again, I have had a reply to say changes to my claim are being made but that's it. I have asked for payments to be backdated as I had no idea I was able to claim this and weve being struggling financially for a long time too. Has anybody had any luck with being back payed or will they just say its my fault and should have claimed earlier?  They have not even asked to see an award letter of pip either 
    Thanks 
  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,784 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    Hey @trudiw80 I'm glad that they've at least applied the changes.  Unfortunately the DWP often expect people to know which benefits they're entitled to, so asking for backpay can often be very tricky. But hopefully they'll at least be open to talk of backpay. I'll keep my fingers crossed!
  • trudiw80
    trudiw80 Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener
    edited April 2024
    [Image removed by Moderator - Personal information]
  • trudiw80
    trudiw80 Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener
    I have now received this! I am infuriated as I have been open and honest about my daughter throughout.  I really don't know what to do next but try to fight my corner. Do I need legal advice do you think?
    Thanks
  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,784 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    Hi @trudiw80 unfortunately I've had to remove the letter as it contained personal information and we want to make sure you stay safe online. 
  • trudiw80
    trudiw80 Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener
    Oops 😬 sorry
  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,784 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    Haha, not a worry at all, we just don't want your personal info getting out to other people. :)

    From what I saw, it'll be best to just give them a call tomorrow and try to work out what's going on there, that hopefully may have just been a standard letter sent out in error. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    I didn't see what you posted before it was removed. What did it say exactly? You should be paid everything that's owed to you from the assessment period in which you became entitled to it. 
  • trudiw80
    trudiw80 Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener
    Hi poppy
    Basically they are sayingbits my fault because I've not reported a change si they are thinking of a civil fine!  And that I'd not declared my daughters condition,  which i have done on numerous occasions, I also have got screenshots from my journal stating this and one from 2021 asking them why I'm not in receipt of disabled child element,  nobody ever got back to me so I just thought it wasn't a thing hence why I've done nothing since. I just did a benefit calculation the other day and it came up.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    I completely disagree with whatever they've told you. It makes no sense why they've told you that you didn't declare her health conditions on your journal.  

    Can you please confirm that she's still a dependent child and your UC includes the child element for her? 
  • trudiw80
    trudiw80 Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener
    Yes she is 17 still completely dependent on me and on my claim as child element, also still in college until 2025
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Then there is no reason at all why the disabled child element will not be paid from the assessment period in which you became entitled to it. If you get no joy in the next few days I'd advise you to contact your local MP. Tell them exactly what's happened and they will contact UC on your behalf.contact-your-mp
  • trudiw80
    trudiw80 Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener
    OK thank you so much for your help and advice

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