Backdate of Disability Living Allowance and Carers Allowance

moneyworrier2021

Afternoon

We successfully was able to claim Disability living allowance back in February for our 5 years old. He was marked into the mid tier because of the level of care he requires. Because of that we were able to claim Carers allowance as my husband is the main carer for him while I work.

With the Carers allowance, they backdated it a month to when the DLA allocation was submitted in Feb but I am wondering whether it's possible to back date it all the way to March 2020 when we adopted him and he came to live with us? 

I haven't been told either way whether it's possible but curious as to whether anyone on here has had any experience?

poppy12345

moneyworrier2021 said:

Afternoon

We successfully was able to claim Disability living allowance back in February for our 5 years old. He was marked into the mid tier because of the level of care he requires. Because of that we were able to claim Carers allowance as my husband is the main carer for him while I work.

With the Carers allowance, they backdated it a month to when the DLA allocation was submitted in Feb but I am wondering whether it's possible to back date it all the way to March 2020 when we adopted him and he came to live with us? 

I haven't been told either way whether it's possible but curious as to whether anyone on here has had any experience?

No, it's not possible to claim it back that far and can only be claimed to the start of the DLA award because part of the criteria to claim Carers Allowance is Mid/high rate care DLA. https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

pmlindyloo

Carer’s Allowance can generally be backdated for up to three months before the date you submit your claim, so long as you meet the conditions for this period.

However, there is an exception where Carer’s Allowance can get backdated further than three months. If you claim Carer’s Allowance within three months of the person you care for getting a decision about their qualifying disability benefit, then Carer’s Allowance can get paid back up to the date the qualifying disability benefit was awarded from (as long as you meet the Carer’s Allowance conditions for the whole period).

You need to ask for Carer’s Allowance to be backdated on the claim form, it will not be backdated automatically.

From Carers UK

It is not clear to me if the DLA was backdated to when you applied.  If it was then you should get the CA backdated to then.

You will need to telephone Carers Allowance and ask for the backdating.

poppy12345

pmlindyloo said:

It is not clear to me if the DLA was backdated to when you applied.

moneyworrier2021 said:

Afternoon

We successfully was able to claim Disability living allowance back in February for our 5 years old.

With the Carers allowance, they backdated it a month to when the DLA allocation was submitted in Feb

According to this the application was made in Feb so i took that as Feb 2021.

moneyworrier2021

yeah, feb of this year.

Seems like we've received what we are entitled too, so i won't push them to backdate further.

Just wish we put the original claims in when he moved in with us but at the time, wasn't aware we would be entitled.