carers element/credit

rabialiones

i have been trying to understand the process , reading over and over again, but cannot work out the difference or which one can /should be claimed if at all.
my oh is in receipt of UC and i also have to go for interviews etc, and they are telling me to go on a course however , i do unpaid care over 35 hours a week for an elderly relative who is in receipt of attendance allowance.
so  it would be really difficult for me to go on a course or look for employment.

i would be really grateful if someone could point me in the right direction as it seems very confusing for me, as i do not understand how any claim would affect our UC claim or the elderly persons income.

the elderly person is in receipt of attendance allowance and state pension

regards

marcia_

rabialiones said:

i have been trying to understand the process , reading over and over again, but cannot work out the difference or which one can /should be claimed if at all.
my oh is in receipt of UC and i also have to go for interviews etc, and they are telling me to go on a course however , i do unpaid care over 35 hours a week for an elderly relative who is in receipt of attendance allowance.
so  it would be really difficult for me to go on a course or look for employment.

i would be really grateful if someone could point me in the right direction as it seems very confusing for me, as i do not understand how any claim would affect our UC claim or the elderly persons income.

the elderly person is in receipt of attendance allowance and state pension

regards

 Do they also receive pension credit? 

Spoonie_Turtle

If the cared-for person lives alone (or only with anyone else who is registered blind or claims a disability benefit) then their potential entitlement to Pension Credit is increased.

If you claim carers element, that would cease.  If they don't live alone (or only with anyone else who also claims a disability benefit or is registered blind) this is irrelevant and their income wouldn't be affected.

I do not know whether it affects any potential Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support but again I think it would only be if they live alone.

In your post you only mention State Pension and AA but it can be worth double checking as sometimes people don't clock that they're claiming certain benefits (they can view PC as just part of their 'pension money').  One easy way to tell is did they get the Warm Home Discount from their energy supplier?

If you did claim carers element your UC entitlement would increase slightly and you would not have any work or work search requirements.

rabialiones

 thanks for the replies

cared-for person does not receive pension credit and does not live alone or  with anyone else who also claims a disability benefit or is registered blind

rabialiones

i would be really grateful if anyone can explain to me in laymans terms the difference between carers credit and carers element and if i had  to claim one so i would not have  work or work search requirements, which one would be best.
also , would any forms need to be filled in by myself or the person being cared for?

Robbie64

rabialiones said:

i would be really grateful if anyone can explain to me in laymans terms the difference between carers credit and carers element and if i had  to claim one so i would not have  work or work search requirements, which one would be best.
also , would any forms need to be filled in by myself or the person being cared for?

Carer's Credit gives you NI credits if you care for someone for at least 20 hours a week https://www.gov.uk/carers-credit

Carer's Element is an extra amount of Universal Credit and is given to someone who cares for someone for at least 35 hours a week https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get

If you are a carer and wish to have work search requirements for UC switched off you would need to be a carer for at least 35 hours a week. You would then get the Carer's Element added to your UC. You can get the Carer's Element with or without having to claim Carer's Allowance, which is a separate benefit to UC 9and which is taken into account for UC). If you care for between 20 to 34 hours a week then you can get the Carer's Credit but not the Carer's Element. You would also have to discuss with your work coach whether caring for someone under 35 hours aweek is enough to switch off your work search requirmenets (they may be reduced instead). You won't get any extra UC and the NI credit is somewhat wasted as you get a NI credit from UC anyway.

marcia_

rabialiones said:

i would be really grateful if anyone can explain to me in laymans terms the difference between carers credit and carers element and if i had  to claim one so i would not have  work or work search requirements, which one would be best.
also , would any forms need to be filled in by myself or the person being cared for?

 When someone claimed carers allowance for me I received a letter informing me with a number to call if I had queries