universal credit child dla element backdate?

ktsaver92

Hi all, Hope you are keeping well. 

we have had to make a claim for UC, we are due the first payment next week. My daughter is disabled, we receive HRC and LM and have doen since 02/2021. We have been advised from citizens advice we need to ask for the child and carers element to be backdated to this date. I cant see this being correct information? Is this right? I only thought it would get backdated to the start of the claim 4 weeks ago. Has anyone got any experience? I keep asking universal credit and they seem to not give me a definitive answer. Thankyou in advance. 

calcotti

The child element, the disabled child element and the carer element should all be included in the first payment provided you reported the circumstances when you made your UC claim. It obviously can't be paid prior to the UC claim.

Check your UC statement as soon as it is produced which she be a few days prior to the payment date.

poppy12345

That's terrible advice you've had from citizens advice. It can't be backdated to a date before your UC claim started. You need to report the changes on your journal and tell them your daughter is claiming HRC DLA and the higher disabled element will be included.

You will also be able to claim carers element for looking after her, if you haven't already reported being her carer then i'd advise you to do this. (providing you care for her for at least 35 hours/week)

ktsaver92

I knew this didnt sound right, thankyou both for your advice.