Carers increase in earnings and UC

tomwalker
tomwalker Community member Posts: 33 Contributor

Good news that a carer can earn more...I care for my brain injured wife. So I claim UC and I suppose the earnings threshold still applies...meaning that while I could potentially wear 196 a week..the earnings threshold on UC is 395 a month I believe and everything after that docs 55p per pound earned? I'd that right..its like a carer is on even higher tax than the top rate surely?!!!!

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,416 Championing

    This applies to those claiming Carers allowance and It will make no difference to you anyway because you're also claiming UC. Carers allowance is deducted in full from UC.

    The earnings disregard you mention is known as the work allowance. If you claim for help with the rent it will be £404/month, if you don't it will be £673/month. You are correct in saying that for every £1 of earnings received over those amounts your UC is reduced by 55p.

  • tomwalker
    tomwalker Community member Posts: 33 Contributor

    At least its not complicated..thanks

  • Ralph
    Ralph Community member Posts: 136 Empowering

    I had a faint hope of them allowing carers allowance to not be included in assessments for UC. In other words not be deducted from UC. After all carers are saving the country billions. A faint hope.

  • Mijulie_1966
    Mijulie_1966 Community member Posts: 4 Listener

    My son is my main carer claiming 35 hours (and a lot more) carers allowance plus UC so I take it we will still be worse off with no change?

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,416 Championing

    Carers allowance has always been deducted from certain means tested benefits such as UC, Income Related ESA/JSA and Income Support. I can't see that ever changing.

    You need to make sure that your UC also includes the carers element.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,416 Championing

    Your son isn't worse off by claiming carers allowance at the same time as UC, there's just no financial gain.

    He needs to make sure his UC also includes carers element, providing he doesn't claim the LCWRA element for himself because the same person can't receive both elements at the same time.

  • onlymeagain
    onlymeagain Community member Posts: 94 Contributor

    Most Carers are also in receipt of Universal Credit so it was all just talk really.
    It's also still pretty pathetic that they will only be giving the minimum wage for 16 hours when you are required to be caring for at least 35 hours.

  • tomwalker
    tomwalker Community member Posts: 33 Contributor

    Re the lDy whose son is her carer...I know they deduct the Carers allowance from the UC but also they should be giving you another 180 from UC for being a carer

  • onlymeagain
    onlymeagain Community member Posts: 94 Contributor

    In our situation, I receive CA and UC, hubby receives CA. (They messed up the UC and which bank account it should go in) So in theory, I will be worse off as more money will go to hubby than to me once the amount changes.
    Obviously the amount of money coming in the house remains the same, but many couples have separate finances.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,416 Championing

    I don't know what you mean by "once the amount changes" what amount are you referring to?

  • onlymeagain
    onlymeagain Community member Posts: 94 Contributor
    edited October 30
  • onlymeagain
    onlymeagain Community member Posts: 94 Contributor

    I've just rechecked this and it seems I was misled elsewhere. I was led to believe the amount of Carers was being raised as well as the earnings limited. So ignore my post.

  • tomwalker
    tomwalker Community member Posts: 33 Contributor

    I know they deduct it all from UC but UC should give youthe carer an extra 180

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,416 Championing

    Unless that person is receiving the LCWRA element for theirself. In this case the same person can't receive both carers element and LCWRA element at the same time and only the higher element is paid, which is LCWRA. Carers element is £198.31/month.