Will a claim for carers allowance trigger universal credit?

Mickpeasoup

I'm currently in receipt of ESA support group, & have recently been awarded PIP Enchanced daily living & Enchanced mobility. My partner is on a joint claim with me.

As I've recently been awarded PIP, my partner decided to apply for carers allowance since she cares/supervises me for 35+ hours per week.

Should she be awarded carers allowance, would this trigger universal credit?

I'm being paid on a fortnightly basis just now & would prefer to stay this way for as long as possible - but I'm aware universal credit is being rolled out in this area at present.

Ames

Are you in a full service or live service area?

You can check here:

https://www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk/postcode-checker

poppy12345

Mickpeasoup wrote: »

I'm currently in receipt of ESA support group, & have recently been awarded PIP Enchanced daily living & Enchanced mobility. My partner is on a joint claim with me.

As I've recently been awarded PIP, my partner decided to apply for carers allowance since she cares/supervises me for 35+ hours per week.

Should she be awarded carers allowance, would this trigger universal credit?

I'm being paid on a fortnightly basis just now & would prefer to stay this way for as long as possible - but I'm aware universal credit is being rolled out in this area at present.

A claim for Carers Allowance will not prompt a move to Universal Credit, even if you are in a full UC area because you and your partner are already claiming ESA.

poppy12345

See this link for what triggers a claim for UC in a full service area. Look under carers.
https://www.welfare-benefits-unit.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/What-triggers-a-claim-for-Universal-Credit-in-a-full-service-area.pdf

Alice_Holt

This would not trigger a move to UC.

She would not receive CA (as you have a joint claim for ESA and it is not possible to receive both these benefits), but you will get a c.£35pw carers premium added to your joint ESA claim.

Mickpeasoup

A post code check suggests I've been in a Universal credit full service area since February 2018.

@Poppy,

I looked under the carers section of that site, but I was under the impression a new application for carers allowance would trigger Universal credit.

My partner isn't actually in receipt of ESA, but she's on my ESA claim if that makes sense?

When I met her, she was in receipt of income support, but when I moved in with her, she was migrated onto my claim.

Are you 100% convinced that this recent application for Carers Allowance won't change a thing on my end?

Alice_Holt

Mickpeasoup wrote: »

A post code check suggests I've been in a Universal credit full service area since February 2018.

@Poppy,

I looked under the carers section of that site, but I was under the impression a new application for carers allowance would trigger Universal credit.

My partner isn't actually in receipt of ESA, but she's on my ESA claim if that makes sense?

When I met her, she was in receipt of income support, but when I moved in with her, she was migrated onto my claim.

Are you 100% convinced that this recent application for Carers Allowance won't change a thing on my end?

This is perhaps what you were looking at "Satisfies Carer’s Allowance rules which means a new ‘legacy benefit’ claim".
That is where someone claims CA and then is entitled to make a new claim for Income Support (or in a UC area it would be UC).
Your partner has an existing " ‘legacy benefit’ claim" (i.e the joint ESA claim), she has no need to make a new claim for a means tested benefit (either IS or UC).

You will stay as you are, but with a £35 pw premium added to your ESA.

Mickpeasoup

Thanks a bunch gurus - I'm very grateful for your replies.

I feel a lot more relaxed now.

bigbill

Alice_Holt wrote: »

She would not receive CA (as you have a joint claim for ESA and it is not possible to receive both these benefits), but you will get a c.£35pw carers premium added to your joint ESA claim.

Sorry but she will get the carers paid at £64 weekly but they will simply take the £64 from your existing ESA amount, they then add an extra £36 carer premium to your on-going ESA award this extra £36 weekly is what a carers claim is worth to you.

Backdate it to the date your PIP started to maximise the arrears due.

Mickpeasoup

Bigbill,

Thank you for the heads up.

When the carers allowance claim was made recently, we did indicate that we'd like it backdated to mid April as this is when I was awarded PIP.

So, in a nutshell, am I correct in thinking that if she's awarded carers allowance in say 6 Weeks from now - she'll receive 14 (8 Weeks backdated + 6 week) x £64, and I'll receive 14 x circa £36 on top of my ESA?

Mickpeasoup

I can't edit the above post, so I've had to publish this instead, so my apologies.

My calculations are rushed & wrong, so to finalise I'm looking at a financial gain of circa 14 weeks x £36 when/If she gets awarded?