End JSA to claim Universal credit, (Full service area)

fedupfreddie

I am currently claiming JSA, a relation has been awarded PIP and I intend to claim UC since it is not possible to get carer's allowance with JSA in my area.
I need to know when to cancel my JSA and claim UC. Should I do both on the same day or cancel one day and claim UC the next?

[Deleted User]

Of course you can claim carers Allowance it's not a benefit that's being stopped.

pmlindyloo

Who told you that it is not possible to get Carer's Allowance with your JSA?

Carer's Allowance is a separate benefit and claiming it does not trigger a transfer to Universal Credit.

You would claim the CA and this amount would be deducted from your JSA and a Carer's Premium added. Your CA would be paid separately.

Are you on contribution based JSA?

Would your caring responsibilities stop you working completely?

fedupfreddie

I am on income based JSA, many years ago I received carer's and income support. I was told that that is no longer possible and therefore would have to claim UC. To get CA one has to care for 35 hours a week so is not expected to look for work as well.

tboo

fedupfreddie wrote: »

I am on income based JSA, many years ago I received carer's and income support. I was told that that is no longer possible and therefore would have to claim UC. To get CA one has to care for 35 hours a week so is not expected to look for work as well.

Caring for someone 35hrs a week doesn't stop the carer from also working.
but
You must earn no more than £120 a week after tax and expenses

pmlindyloo

fedupfreddie wrote: »

I am on income based JSA, many years ago I received carer's and income support. I was told that that is no longer possible and therefore would have to claim UC. To get CA one has to care for 35 hours a week so is not expected to look for work as well.

This is true.

If you wish to claim Income Support as well as Carer's Allowance then you would have to claim Universal Credit instead of the Income Support.

You need to think about two things:

1. Does the person who has been awarded PIP (presumably daily living as they will need this for you to qualify for the CA) live alone and receive any means tested benefits?
If so then they may be eligible for the Severe Disability Premium with their means tested benefits. If you claim CA for them then they would not get the SDP - a loss of over £60 a week.

2. How old are you? What are your job seeking requirements at the moment? Do you have to look for full time work or part time? Would you be able to do your caring responsibilities and look for work? Or work part time?

Or do you want to come off JSA completely? If so and the SDP isn't relevant then you will have to claim Universal Credit.

fedupfreddie

The person will be receiving the daily living component and does not receive means tested benefits.
I am 64 and have been looking for work for some time with no success.
I want to come off JSA and claim universal credit hence my original question regarding the best way to do it.

pmlindyloo

OK fine.

It does not really matter which way round you do it as your legacy benefits will automatically stop once your UC application has been successful.

However, there is often some miscommunication about this so avoid any overpayments I would notify the DWP and council that you have applied for universal credit.

Don't forget to apply for council tax reduction (if this is appropriate) as this is outside of Universal Credit.

And you can apply for an advance of your UC as it takes at least 5 weeks to come through. Do this at your first job centre interview.

You do not have to apply for Carer's allowance to receive the Carer's Element in UC but if you have already been caring for your relative you could apply and get it backdated for 3 months if your relative has recently been awarded it (I will find a link about this). You won't actually receive the CA because you would have been receiving JSA and therefore it should have been counted as income - they do a straight swap - underpayment of CA is the same amount of overpayment of JSA. BUT you should receive the carer's premium (about £30+ per wk) for that time from the DWP. You might have to do a bit of telephoning to get this sorted out.

If you haven't yet started your caring duties then, as I have said, you do not have to be receiving CA to be awarded the carer's element in UC. If you did so it would be counted as income but you would still end up with the extra carer's element (exactly like being on JSA)

Some information about claiming Universal Credit.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/apply-for-universal-credit/

pmlindyloo

Here's the information about backdating carer's allowance.

Carer's Allowance can usually only be backdated for a maximum of three months if you claim it within three months of a decision to award a qualifying benefit to the person you care for.

You must specifically request that your Carer's Allowance claim is backdated, and you must have satisfied all the rules for claiming Carer's Allowance during the backdating period. You can also challenge a decision not to backdate Carer's Allowance if your request is refused.

fedupfreddie

Thank you very much indeed.