Carers element vs carers allowance

worrywart_3

I currently get carers element in a universal credit claim, I’ve been told to apply for carers allowance, which I have done I’ve now been asked for more infomation from them, I’m confused about several things.
financially I am the same with either claim and the only difference is national
insurance is paid with carers allowance is that correct? But I’ve also been told I can be worse off on carers allowance due to deductions from universal credit, will I currently be getting national insurance with a child under ten anyway? 
 

calcotti

Your child benefit gives you Class 3 credits.
Universal Credit also gives you Class 3 credits.
Carers Allowance gives you Class 1 Credits.
https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility

so you get NI credits on both UC and CA, the difference is the type of credit. Both count towards your state pension. 
Who told you to apply for Carers Allowance?

worrywart_3

calcotti said:

Your child benefit gives you Class 3 credits.
Universal Credit also gives you Class 3 credits.
Carers Allowance gives you Class 1 Credits.
https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility

so you get NI credits on both UC and CA, the difference is the type of credit. Both count towards your state pension. 
Who told you to apply for Carers Allowance?

My benefits advisor when I went in to for universal credit interview he also said despite the fact I declare some self employed work that carers allowance meant I wouldn’t have to be providing evidence of work whereas carers element I may I’ve been working less since covid, single parent disabled child. 

calcotti

worrywart_3 said:

calcotti said:

Your child benefit gives you Class 3 credits.
Universal Credit also gives you Class 3 credits.
Carers Allowance gives you Class 1 Credits.
https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility

so you get NI credits on both UC and CA, the difference is the type of credit. Both count towards your state pension. 
Who told you to apply for Carers Allowance?

My benefits advisor when I went in to for universal credit interview he also said despite the fact I declare some self employed work that carers allowance meant I wouldn’t have to be providing evidence of work whereas carers element I may I’ve been working less since covid, single parent disabled child. 

That sounds wrong.
If you are getting the carer element in UC then you have no work or work related commitments, regardless of whether or not you claim CA. 
If you are doing some self employment you will have to declare the income and expenditure to UC each month and claiming CA will make no difference to this.

worrywart_3

calcotti said:

worrywart_3 said:

calcotti said:

Your child benefit gives you Class 3 credits.
Universal Credit also gives you Class 3 credits.
Carers Allowance gives you Class 1 Credits.
https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility

so you get NI credits on both UC and CA, the difference is the type of credit. Both count towards your state pension. 
Who told you to apply for Carers Allowance?

My benefits advisor when I went in to for universal credit interview he also said despite the fact I declare some self employed work that carers allowance meant I wouldn’t have to be providing evidence of work whereas carers element I may I’ve been working less since covid, single parent disabled child. 

That sounds wrong.
If you are getting the carer element in UC then you have no work or work related commitments, regardless of whether or not you claim CA. 
If you are doing some self employment you will have to declare the income and expenditure to UC each month and claiming CA will make no difference to this.

Thank you I am of
course declaring it, my child is ten this year so as long as I remain in universal credit I don’t need to worry about the national Insurance element. So best just to leave it as it is 

Alice_Holt

worrywart_3 said:

calcotti said:

Your child benefit gives you Class 3 credits.
Universal Credit also gives you Class 3 credits.
Carers Allowance gives you Class 1 Credits.
https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility

so you get NI credits on both UC and CA, the difference is the type of credit. Both count towards your state pension. 
Who told you to apply for Carers Allowance?

My benefits advisor when I went in to for universal credit interview he also said despite the fact I declare some self employed work that carers allowance meant I wouldn’t have to be providing evidence of work whereas carers element I may I’ve been working less since covid, single parent disabled child. 

        Some misinformation from your benefits "advisor".

     This may explain it better:
      https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Caring-overview-Universal-Credit


    Any CA you receive will be deducted from your UC payment, but you would then be limited to maximum weekly earnings of £128:
    https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/carers-allowance/ 
 
   This could be problematic when self-employed and earnings fluctuate.

   Additionally CA is administered by the CA unit, UC  and the CA unit don't necessarily communicate. Glitches can happen between the two, and can be difficult for claimants to resolve.

   

calcotti

Out of interest, why were you required to attend the JobCentre anyway? As advised earlier, if you are a carer you should have no work or work related requirements.

worrywart_3

Because my child had just been diagnoised, I didn’t claim carers allowance and have now found out I have missed out because the amount is a lot more, I haven’t been able to work much so way under the allowance it’s all so confusing. I thought the amount was the same, as that was what the advisor told me:

calcotti

worrywart_3 said:

Because my child had just been diagnoised, I didn’t claim carers allowance and have now found out I have missed out because the amount is a lot more, I haven’t been able to work much so way under the allowance it’s all so confusing. I thought the amount was the same, as that was what the advisor told me:

Carer’s Allowance is a lot more than what?

If you are claiming both UC and CA the total amount will be exactly the same as if you claim just UC which includes the carer element. This is because the CA is deducted in full from the UC

worrywart_3

Ah so the benefits advisor advised correctly then I get £162 roughly yet carers allowance is £302 this totally confuses me thanks for your help

calcotti

worrywart_3 said:

Ah so the benefits advisor advised correctly then I get £162 roughly yet carers allowance is £302 this totally confuses me thanks for your help

The UC is increased by £163 which brings your total UC to £x.

If you claim CA the UC is reduced by the same amount as the CA you receive. The combined total of CA and UC will be the same £x/month.

Note that the deduction for CA shown in the UC calculation will be slightly different to the actual CA payments you receive because CA is paid four weekly (or weekly) but has to be converted to a monthly amount for the UC calculation,