Less money after being switched over to Universal Credit

Spoonie_Turtle

thebailey said:

I have been told I am entitled once again to carers allowance (£163 a month) BUT haven't received any payments yet (nor have I received the backdated payment)  That also seems to be take ages to get?

They can take a long time to process Carers Allowance claims.  As it's only been a month since your aunt won her appeal, it's not surprising that your payments haven't yet resumed.

calcotti

Spoonie_Turtle said:

thebailey said:

I have been told I am entitled once again to carers allowance (£163 a month) BUT haven't received any payments yet (nor have I received the backdated payment)  That also seems to be take ages to get?

They can take a long time to process Carers Allowance claims.  As it's only been a month since your aunt won her appeal, it's not surprising that your payments haven't yet resumed.

OP is mixing up Carer’s Allowance and carer element of UC. £163 is the UC carer element. I am not clear that OP has reclaimed CA, even if they have it will not increase their overall income because the CA will simply be deducted from the UC.

thebailey

I'm sorry.  I'm still confused.  I've sent a message to my UC journal about the SDP missing from my account, and also mentioned I havent received any carers yet, although being told ages ago I was once again entitled to it and backdated money.

I'll see what they say.

Thanks everyone.

rarees1

When your aunt lost her disability benefit, your claim would have been closed, because you were no longer eligible for it technically.  Although your aunt's claim was reconsidered and put back into payment, your own previous claim for CA is not connected.  Your first step is to ensure that the CA section either reopen it or that you complete a new claim.  Don't expect that your claim will be reinstated automatically.  

While it is true that the amount of CA is deducted £ for £ from UC, the carer's element in UC increases the amount you have to receive each month, just like you used to have a carer's premium in your IS.  So you should be better off.  

Worry about your Capacity assessment later.  Check which is more advantageous to you - going down the sickness route in UC so that you declare yourself to be unfit for work OR to remain a carer who happens to have health problems.  It used to be the case that you'd be better off with an SDP in the sickness route in ESA (or if you already had the SDP in the benefit you were claiming.  Now your IS claim is closed and the UC claim is active, you may not be able to carry it forward in transitional protection because you don't have it already in an existing claim.  If the DWP transfer you over to UC there are more protections, but when it's "natural migration" to UC due to changes in circumstances, your SDP isn't protected.

rarees1

And carer's allowance is the same rate as it was before. .  It's the carer element in UC that is lower - exactly as the carer premium in IS.  The total of the elements make up what the minimum amount you should receive is.  Then other monies received are deducted from the total (in your case CA).  (As you know PIP is exempted from the calculation)  UC makes up the difference to the minimum in your case.

thebailey

rarees1 said:

When your aunt lost her disability benefit, your claim would have been closed, because you were no longer eligible for it technically.  Although your aunt's claim was reconsidered and put back into payment, your own previous claim for CA is not connected.  Your first step is to ensure that the CA section either reopen it or that you complete a new claim.  Don't expect that your claim will be reinstated automatically.  

Thanks.  I think I understand a bit better now.  I have fired off a messaged to my UC journal, asking about the SDP and mentioned that I was told already I will be receiving CA once again but haven't heard since.

I'll see what they say.  Thanks.

poppy12345

rarees1 said:

 you may not be able to carry it forward in transitional protection because you don't have it already in an existing claim.  If the DWP transfer you over to UC there are more protections, but when it's "natural migration" to UC due to changes in circumstances, your SDP isn't protected.

That is not correct. As previously advised, because the OP claimed UC within one month of the IS claim ending they would have been entitled to the SDP transitional support protection in with their maximum UC entitlement. This is because their IS included the SDP. See link. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Transitional-protection-Universal-Credit

calcotti

rarees1 said: While it is true that the amount of CA is deducted £ for £ from UC, the carer's element in UC increases the amount you have to receive each month, just like you used to have a carer's premium in your IS.  So you should be better off.  

It is not necessary to claim Carer’s Allowance in order to get the carer element in UC. OP has already told UC they are a carer and it appears that they have confirmed the carer element is payable.

rarees1 said:

Your first step is to ensure that the CA section either reopen it or that you complete a new claim.  

So that is not necessary (although OP can claim CA if they wish to).

rarees1 said: Worry about your Capacity assessment later.  Check which is more advantageous to you - going down the sickness route in UC so that you declare yourself to be unfit for work OR to remain a carer who happens to have health problems.  It used to be the case that you'd be better off with an SDP in the sickness route in ESA (or if you already had the SDP in the benefit you were claiming.  Now your IS claim is closed and the UC claim is active, you may not be able to carry it forward in transitional protection because you don't have it already in an existing claim.  

OP is better off not pursuing the WCA for the time being. They should seek to get the SDP transitional element in place as already advised for the reasons given.

thebailey

calcotti said:

rarees1 said: While it is true that the amount of CA is deducted £ for £ from UC, the carer's element in UC increases the amount you have to receive each month, just like you used to have a carer's premium in your IS.  So you should be better off.  

It is not necessary to claim Carer’s Allowance in order to get the carer element in UC. OP has already told UC they are a carer and it appears that they have confirmed the carer element is payable.

Yes. Spoonie_Turtle replied saying it'll probably take a while to start receiving CA payments again.  However, I've mentioned both the SDP in my UC Journal as well as mentioned the CA taking a while (however, I guess Spoonie_Turtle, has answered that part).  The main issue I guess is the SDP payment.

Hopefully I'll get a reply soon in my journal.  Thanks.

poppy12345

thebailey said:

calcotti said:

rarees1 said: While it is true that the amount of CA is deducted £ for £ from UC, the carer's element in UC increases the amount you have to receive each month, just like you used to have a carer's premium in your IS.  So you should be better off.  

It is not necessary to claim Carer’s Allowance in order to get the carer element in UC. OP has already told UC they are a carer and it appears that they have confirmed the carer element is payable.

Yes. Spoonie_Turtle replied saying it'll probably take a while to start receiving CA payments again.
Hopefully I'll get a reply soon in my journal.  Thanks.

Yes but it's the Carers element you want in with your UC. The carers allowance will not make you financially better off because it's deducted in full from your UC.