Carers Allowance

Alice_Holt

Lechagrin wrote: »

What I was really worried about, when I posted here, was whether I would be penalised for giving up my job to carry on caring, giving my daughter better help during the times of the day she really needs me. I have always worked, I am not sure if I can get UC based on the fact that I would not qualify (under rules before UC) for a means tested benefit. As it is, I work full time but I have no savings or capital and I live in a Council house.

This info may be useful. UC has different work commitments depending on your circumstances.
As pmlindyloo says if you are a carer, you are not expected to seek work -
"No work-related requirements
You will be placed in this group if you are earning above your earnings threshold. This is based on what you would earn if you worked for 35 hours a week at the National Minimum Wage. If you have caring responsibilities your threshold may be lower than this.
You will also be placed in this group if you:
receive the carers element or are providing care for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week "
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit/Claimant-Commitment-Conditionality
You should not be penalised for giving up my job to care for your daughter (in receipt of Daily Living PIP) 35 hours a week, nor will you be expected to seek work. It may be important to have the info ready to show to your work coach at the first meeting that you are eligible for the carers element - so there should be no sanctions for ending work to take on greater care responsibilities.

This is some info on the carers element:
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Caring-overview-Universal-Credit
https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice - would also be able to advise.

The Basic UC allowance is £318 pm, the carers addition is £152 pm, your housing payments will also come under UC.
Providing you are caring for 35 hrs - you can also work.
Given the 5 week UC wait, and the & day waiting period - you may want to build up a fund to enable you to stay out of rent arrears during this period.
It's worth putting your info into a benefits calculator -
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefit-calculations/
- to check how the actual element of housing costs paid compares with the rent due.
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit-housing-costs-tenants/What-is-the-Universal-Credit-housing-costs-element

Lechagrin

Hi pmlindyloo,

Here is a screenshot from CAB after I entered my postcode:

Universal Credit in your area
This advice applies to England Print
You can apply for Universal Credit in your area if:
you!!!8217;re aged 18 or over
you!!!8217;re under state pension credit age
you!!!8217;re on a low income or unemployed
you have savings of less than £16,000
you!!!8217;re not in full time education or training
If you live with your partner you!!!8217;ll need to make a joint claim.

If you have children
You live in a 'full service' Universal Credit area. If you get Universal Credit, you'll have an online account where you'll be able to see payments and ask questions about your claim.[/B]

As you can see it just says 'Universal Credit in your area'. I'll have to admit, I am not sure if that means 'full service' or not? I really appreciate your time with this help, many thanks.

Thanks for your post Alice, I 'll have a read through, thanks.

bigbill

Try here for more clear info on UC areas?

https://universalcreditinfo.net/

Lechagrin

Thanks Alice, I have had a read through your post and it has been very helpful, thank you for all the links, it was very good of you to help. .

Thanks for the link Bigbill.

Lechagrin

Hi Robbydabanca, technically I think that is what is being suggested, I should claim Carers Element of UC which will hopefully be topped up UC. Thanks for your help.

Lechagrin

Hi Robbydabanca,

Oh my word, all the help from all the comments and links and I think I got my last post wrong, thanks, your explanation sounds a lot more correct than mine. I will take the advice I have been given here, thanks again.

Lucy

pmlindyloo

Robbydabanca wrote: »

Its just UC is not replacing Carer's Allowance, so I would still make a claim for this benefit as well as Universal Credit.

If you are in a full service area then you do not have to claim Carer's allowance to claim the Carer's Element in Universal Credit.

The reason I suggested that she does not claim Carer's allowance is that it has restrictions on what you can earn.

If she claims the Carer's Element of Universal Credit then there are no restrictions on what you can earn.

The OP said they were struggling to find hours to satisfy the Carer's allowance restrictions so I thought this would be a better solution for them.

But you do have to be in a universal credit full service area to do this.

If she wants to claim CA and then get a 'top up' from UC she can do this too but her earnings would be restricted because of the rules for Carer's Allowance.

Read this:

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Your-Situation/Carers/Universal-Credit/Additional-Elements-of-Universal-Credit

Lechagrin

Hi pmlindyloo

I have phoned CAB and was advised I was in a Full Service UC area, but the woman on phone then advised me to claim CA with a UC top up. I felt this was most probably incorrect, given what I have read on here and on line on various sites. I phoned CA for advice and the man said it would be advisable for me to claim Carers Element of UC, and if all else fails they (CA) will definitely award me CA (and I could apply for a UC top up).

I am going to take the bull by the horns and inform work, when I have worked my notice I will claim Carers Element of UC and hopefuly a UC top up. I am hoping this will give me some breathing space to find employment that will fit in with myself and my daughter.

I really appreciate the help of this forum, many thanks.