son UC/carers/work

Thisisthelife

hi,i recieve UC and pip both parts both high and also get trans protection on my UC,.My now adult son 18yrs lives with me and left School in July 2025 so was on my claim but any benefits for him stopped,fair enough

he does help me with tasks for me and around the house etc,he has been looking for work but as yet been un sucsesful,things are getting tight and didnt want him to go down the benefit route but now feel he has no choice.

i have read that he could be my paid carer if over 35hrs a week,how would we go about this?

would it effect my UC/Pip/trans protection??

i still think working would benefit him,would he be able to do some work even though he may get benefit

this is all new to me so any help would be very welcome
thank you

Spoonie_Turtle

Thisisthelife said:

hi,i recieve UC and pip both parts both high and also get trans protection on my UC,.My now adult son 18yrs lives with me and left School in July 2025 so was on my claim but any benefits for him stopped,fair enough

he does help me with tasks for me and around the house etc,he has been looking for work but as yet been un sucsesful,things are getting tight and didnt want him to go down the benefit route but now feel he has no choice.

i have read that he could be my paid carer if over 35hrs a week,how would we go about this?

would it effect my UC/Pip/trans protection??

i still think working would benefit him,would he be able to do some work even though he may get benefit

this is all new to me so any help would be very welcome
thank you

It won't affect your benefits.

He can claim UC in his own right, he'll be entitled to the standard allowance and the carer element (assuming your PIP includes the daily living component).  When he applies for UC one of the questions will be whether he provides care for anyone, he would answer yes and provide any subsequent details (such as who he cares for).

He can still look for work that fits around caring and his overall circumstances, he just wouldn't be expected to attend appointments and show evidence of searching for/applying for work. 

If he does find some paid work then 55% of what he earns will be deducted from UC. 

(He could also volunteer if he finds anything interesting/useful, which could be beneficial for gaining some experience and keeping a weekly routine.)

KxMx

Anything he is awarded won't impact any of your benefits. 

He can claim UC  (Standard Allowance + Carers Element) which would be £518.68 per month.

He wouldn't have any work requirements as a carer, anything he earns would reduce his award by 55p for every £1 earned.

The alternative is Carers Allowance @ £83.30 a week. 
He can earn up to £196 a week. 

If he claimed both there is no financial gain as the CE would be deducted in full from his UC award. It does pay a better class of NI Contributions. 

Thisisthelife

many thanks

is that right he can earn £196 a month i thought it was more?
if he just claimed carers allowance and found some part time work i guess as not applyin for uc he wont have any work commitments as he wont be on UC if that makes sense

Thisisthelife

dont UC credit want to know if your adult child gives you some money for board or is that ignored

thank you

KxMx

£196 a week is the current earnings limit.

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

As advised, if he claims UC his status as a carer will mean he doesn't have any work commitments, and won't need to see a work coach or be required to look for work.

UC will ignore money you receive for board from a household member. 

Rubyroobs

Thisisthelife said:

many thanks

is that right he can earn £196 a month i thought it was more?
if he just claimed carers allowance and found some part time work i guess as not applyin for uc he wont have any work commitments as he wont be on UC if that makes sense

Carers allowance earnings threshold is £196 per week not month.

KxMx

Oops my bad 🤭 Posts edited. 

Thisisthelife

thank you all
i have spoken to my son and he would like some part time work so he will just go for carers allowance and see how that goes

Thisisthelife

just a last one as i lost the single persons council tax support as my son left education and am now waiting for a ajusted bill,if he claims carers will it effect the bill more and do i need to tell them

thanks

KxMx

Yes you do need to update them. 

Council Tax Reduction is decided on at a local level with each local authority having different rules. It's very hard to advise on individual cases from here.