Carers allowance and universal credit carers element

Legacy_user

Answered..

Alice_Holt

I'm sorry to say that the full CA will be deducted.

This is from https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Caring-overview-Universal-Credit
"Carer's Allowance will be taken fully into account (in other words each £1 of Carer's Allowance will reduce your Universal Credit payment by £1) when working out your Universal Credit.

WillowCat

The full carers allowance is deducted from the UC claim, but the carers element is added to the claim. So you are £151.89 better off than if you were not a carer.

Genuineguy03

I know this is an old thread. but i just wanted to point out that you are no better off than a non carer, by claiming carers allowance.

When you do the maths on what's deducted (carers allowance) from your monthly living allowance, what's added (carers element) and then add the difference between carers element and carers allowance (carers allowance minus carers element). The total is the exact same as your living allowance. So you still actually only have £317.82 cash per month, no more, regardless of carer element, if you also claim carers allowance. Whether they'll pay you carers element on its own is something you'll have to ask for. but expect a fight as they don't like paying it even though your entitled to it, if you meet the same eligibility criteria for carers allowance - even if not claiming carers allowance.

So if you don't claim carers allowance, but entitled to it. Claim carers element on its own, but expect a fight and a lot of running in circles, unless your real lucky and get a decent DWP employee on the phone/journal

poppy12345

Genuineguy03 wrote: »

I know this is an old thread. but i just wanted to point out that you are no better off than a non carer, by claiming carers allowance.

When you do the maths on what's deducted (carers allowance) from your monthly living allowance, what's added (carers element) and then add the difference between carers element and carers allowance (carers allowance minus carers element). The total is the exact same as your living allowance. So you still actually only have £317.82 cash per month, no more, regardless of carer element,

This is not correct. If carers allowance is being claimed and you're claiming UC then you'll be £156 per month better off.



As stated, the carers allowance is taken off the UC, a carers element is added and then carers allowance then pay you £64.30 per week.

calcotti

Important to note however that you do not need to claim Carers Allowance to get the Carer element. This means that whereas you cannot get Carers Allowance if earning £120 or more/week you can still get the Carer element.

It is correct that claiming Carer’s allowance makes no difference to overall money.

The deduction of CA offset by the carer element is no different to the treatment of CA and Carer premium in legacy benefits and the amount of money provided by the Carer element matches that from the Carer premium in legacy benefits.

It may still be worth claiming Carer’s Allowance in order to get Class 1 ni credits rather then the class 3 credits on UC. This will protect the carer’s future entitlement to some benefits whereas class 3 only counts for state pension.

huckster

Please note that UC will not backdate Carers element, even if you had Carers Allowance running.

Carers element only runs from the assessment period that a caring activity (35 hours a week or more) is verified.

What sometimes happens is that people are successful in having Carers Allowance awarded backdated for a number of months. This is then picked up by UC, who then calculate an overpayment for the same amount, as UC would have been paid without Carers Allowance being deducted. UC will not backdate the Carers element to the date Carers Allowance started.

calcotti

huckster wrote: »

Please note that UC will not backdate Carers element, even if you had Carers Allowance running.

Carers element only runs from the assessment period that a caring activity (35 hours a week or more) is verified.

What sometimes happens is that people are successful in having Carers Allowance awarded backdated for a number of months. This is then picked up by UC, who then calculate an overpayment for the same amount, as UC would have been paid without Carers Allowance being deducted. UC will not backdate the Carers element to the date Carers Allowance started.

That’s ridiculous - but sadly somehow not surprising. If that’s what is normal it sounds like something someone should take up with their MP.

poppy12345

Of course, i keep forgetting that you don't have to claim Carers allowance to get the carers element of UC. I apologise to the OP for stating they were incorrect.



Not back dating carers element, disgusting! UC just gets worse!

huckster

Reason is that Carers element backdating would mean changes to claimant group and claimant commitment going backwards.

It is always up to the claimant to report a change in circumstances at the time a change occurs.

Perhaps Carers Allowance staff should be prompted to mention that if someone is claiming UC, that they should report any caring activity to UC.

calcotti

huckster wrote: »

Reason is that Carers element backdating would mean changes to claimant group and claimant commitment going backwards.

It is always up to the claimant to report a change in circumstances at the time a change occurs.

Perhaps Carers Allowance staff should be prompted to mention that if someone is claiming UC, that they should report any caring activity to UC.

I think the issue is this. When claiming UC if you are a carer you would discuss this with your work coach. They have to decide if you meet the qualifying conditions for getting the carer element. Part of that assessment is whether the person you care for is sufficiently il/disabled. Perhaps the work coach decides that they are not. Note it is not necessary for the ill person to be getting a 'qualifying benefit' but obviously it helps the decision making process.

The cared for person then gets a PIP award (which as we know can take many months). By definition they will now be treated as sufficiently ill for the carer to be recognised and get the carer element.

The carer can then then claim CA fully backdated to the start of the PIP award.

I think the carer element should then be added and backdated too. I've been looking since you posted earlier and I think the DWP would be wrong not to do this. See their own guidance https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/642310/adma3.pdf

Revising decisions on linked benefits
"A3124 Where

1. the DM awards entitlement to a benefit and
2. the claimant (or in the case of UC a member of their family) is awarded another relevant benefit or an increase in another benefit for a period which includes the date on which the award of the first benefit took effect

the first decision can be revised.

A3125
A relevant benefit includes
1. IB
2. AA
3. SDA
4. DLA
5. CA
6. JSA
7. IS
8. CHB
9. SPC
10. ESA.
11. PIP
12. UC
Note : Credits are not an award of a relevant benefit."

And later on
"Effective date of a revised decision
A3132 A revised decision usually takes effect from the date of the original decision."

if anyone has been refused backdating of the carer element in these circumstances they should ask the DWP for an anytime revision to the decision (that would apply regardless of whether the carer chooses to claim CA). The only ambiguity in this guidance would be if the carer didn't claim CA and the person being cared for was not a family member since the guidance refers to "the claimant (or in the case of UC a member of their family) is awarded another relevant benefit".