Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Can we both just give up work and get UC can anyone advise

59 replies

ConfuseMeTotally · 10/05/2022 17:10

If 2 dc get Dla can both parents be carers and not have to actively look for work ?

Do both have to get carers allowance or just show the award letters ?

Tia

OP posts:
Original poster
ConfuseMeTotally · 10/05/2022 17:34

Blue4YOU · 10/05/2022 17:32

Do check the calculator before you make any changes though OP

Yes I’ll check it. I think it will be ok, well I hope so. Thankyou

OP posts:
AnotherTroyforHertoBurn · 10/05/2022 17:35

Genuine question

Why would both of you give up work, personally I don't trust the Tories a) not to win the next election yes the british electorate are that stupid and b) not to further dismantle the welfare system.

Disclaimer. I know nothing about this, but this was immediately what came to mind.

jamoncrumpets · 10/05/2022 17:35

You'd get about £700 a week, ish, depending on rates of DLA

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Benefits Families
Original poster
ConfuseMeTotally · 10/05/2022 17:36

AnotherTroyforHertoBurn · 10/05/2022 17:35

Genuine question

Why would both of you give up work, personally I don't trust the Tories a) not to win the next election yes the british electorate are that stupid and b) not to further dismantle the welfare system.

Disclaimer. I know nothing about this, but this was immediately what came to mind.

Because we are totally mentally and physically exhausted and can’t meet the needs of our dc properly currently

OP posts:
Clymene · 10/05/2022 17:37

Give carers U.K. a ring - the link I posted has a link to their contact details. It's also about how many hours you have to provide care I think.

Just don't do anything drastic without making sure you're going to vibe able to feed yourselves

Original poster
ConfuseMeTotally · 10/05/2022 17:38

Hoping it isn’t permanent really but we need to just have a break and then see if one or both can go part time at some point. The future but as it is now we need to stop and reset

OP posts:
PBJTime · 10/05/2022 17:39

Yes course they can. They won't be sanctioned as they will be claiming carers for their disabled children and won't have work committments.

I would advise to put in for carers before quitting though as there's a bit of a back log on new claims though.

Original poster
ConfuseMeTotally · 10/05/2022 17:39

Yes I’ll make some calls tomorrow and I’ll have a look at the online calculator tonight

OP posts:
TortieQueen · 10/05/2022 17:40

I'd imagine if you willingly gave up work then it may make a difference to your eligibility. Your best bet is to ring UC & ask the question though. Get them to send you the information in writing too.

Original poster
ConfuseMeTotally · 10/05/2022 17:41

TortieQueen · 10/05/2022 17:40

I'd imagine if you willingly gave up work then it may make a difference to your eligibility. Your best bet is to ring UC & ask the question though. Get them to send you the information in writing too.

That’s what worries me but we’ve had the underlying entitlement to carers for a long time so wondering if we are ok to do that

OP posts:
PumpkinsandKittens · 10/05/2022 17:42

Why are people so dramatic, many people with disabled children aren’t able to work and get by just fine; you will be fine op, I have two kids on dla as well it’s manageable not working. I use to have to attend “work focused interviews” at the job centre but they was just a procedure as I had a child under 5 so it was just to check if I wanted to work no pressure to but now she’s over 5 I don’t have to go anymore.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 10/05/2022 17:47

Yes both HRC/HRM

Great stuff. You can both put in a claim for CA. One child each.

Once Carers Allowance is in payment, claim UC. Or if you already receive UC, let them know you are receiving CA. They should increase your UC to include the carers premium and end your obligation to seek work.

It’s so confusing I can see you get a carers element but if you get carers allowance they deduct that , ?

Yes. That's how it works. It's easier to understand if you imagine the UC "topping up" the CA to a certain level. It definitely works out best to claim both together.

You have to earn under a certain amount to claim carers allowance ? Is it £120 a week and can’t claim if get more ?

It's £132 per week. I find, in practice, I can work one shift at a supermarket and keep the CA. Two shifts would take me over the limit. Its an annoyance but as PP have said its perfectly livible when DLA, UC and CA is added in the mix.

Original poster
ConfuseMeTotally · 10/05/2022 17:49

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 10/05/2022 17:47

Yes both HRC/HRM

Great stuff. You can both put in a claim for CA. One child each.

Once Carers Allowance is in payment, claim UC. Or if you already receive UC, let them know you are receiving CA. They should increase your UC to include the carers premium and end your obligation to seek work.

It’s so confusing I can see you get a carers element but if you get carers allowance they deduct that , ?

Yes. That's how it works. It's easier to understand if you imagine the UC "topping up" the CA to a certain level. It definitely works out best to claim both together.

You have to earn under a certain amount to claim carers allowance ? Is it £120 a week and can’t claim if get more ?

It's £132 per week. I find, in practice, I can work one shift at a supermarket and keep the CA. Two shifts would take me over the limit. Its an annoyance but as PP have said its perfectly livible when DLA, UC and CA is added in the mix.

Thank you so much

OP posts:
TigerRag · 10/05/2022 17:51

TortieQueen · 10/05/2022 17:40

I'd imagine if you willingly gave up work then it may make a difference to your eligibility. Your best bet is to ring UC & ask the question though. Get them to send you the information in writing too.

Not quite true. If you're a carer and give up work, they won't sanction you. It's only if you give up work without good reason or are fired, then maybe it'll be affected.

MintyCedricRidesAgain · 10/05/2022 17:54

I gave up work last year as my dad was on long term end of life care and my mum was struggling (both in their 80s, no other family support and needs really weren't compatible with carers coming in few times a day at fixed times).

I put in the claims for CA and UC at the same time as I handed my notice in and both went through in 4-6 weeks.

Do get on it as soon as possible as it can take up to 8 weeks for claims to be processed, the paperwork is significant and they may want to ask follow up questions.

www.entitledto.co.uk/ is another good benefits calculator website...we used to use it when I worked for Surestart.

You can also get advice from Carers UK and probably from Shelter about financial help with housing (you should be able to claim council tax support - I'm currently paying just £5 a month!)

Also worth signing up for discountsforcarers.com/

Good luck...I hope it works out for you and your family. Caring for an elderly parent(s) for a limited time had me on my knees and virtually suicidal...I can't imagine how much harder it is with two kids.

SleepingStandingUp · 10/05/2022 18:08

TortieQueen · 10/05/2022 17:40

I'd imagine if you willingly gave up work then it may make a difference to your eligibility. Your best bet is to ring UC & ask the question though. Get them to send you the information in writing too.

Two kids with high care needs due to disability. It isn't really the same when you're "giving up work willingly" because you need to to care for them adequately. Op isn't just chucking her job in so she can Netflix and chill with her husband

Babyroobs · 10/05/2022 18:13

You can both claim carers allowance ( or just Uc carers element if you prefer) for one child each. carers allowance is paid separately and deducted from UC at an averaged rate.

Babyroobs · 10/05/2022 18:15

MintyCedricRidesAgain · 10/05/2022 17:54

I gave up work last year as my dad was on long term end of life care and my mum was struggling (both in their 80s, no other family support and needs really weren't compatible with carers coming in few times a day at fixed times).

I put in the claims for CA and UC at the same time as I handed my notice in and both went through in 4-6 weeks.

Do get on it as soon as possible as it can take up to 8 weeks for claims to be processed, the paperwork is significant and they may want to ask follow up questions.

www.entitledto.co.uk/ is another good benefits calculator website...we used to use it when I worked for Surestart.

You can also get advice from Carers UK and probably from Shelter about financial help with housing (you should be able to claim council tax support - I'm currently paying just £5 a month!)

Also worth signing up for discountsforcarers.com/

Good luck...I hope it works out for you and your family. Caring for an elderly parent(s) for a limited time had me on my knees and virtually suicidal...I can't imagine how much harder it is with two kids.

It's irrelevant how long carers allowance takes to process as you don't need to claim it to still be classed as a carer on UC. You can just claim 2 x carers elements. Op and partner should have no work commitments on Uc if both put themselves as a carer for each child.

Working9to5ish · 10/05/2022 18:37

Just a note that very unfairly carers allowance is taken off pound for pound with UC. You don't need to register for it to not be expected to work with UC - you can claim the carer element for your children. This is about £160 a month I think.

oldstudentmum · 10/05/2022 18:39

Carers allowance is taken off universal credit.
However if you tell uc you are a carer (but don’t claim CA) they add £168 pcm to your claim.

I don’t know how it is calculated uc but I was better off not having ca being deducted and just being a carer . I have no idea how that worked. The system is weird.

Babyroobs · 10/05/2022 18:44

oldstudentmum · 10/05/2022 18:39

Carers allowance is taken off universal credit.
However if you tell uc you are a carer (but don’t claim CA) they add £168 pcm to your claim.

I don’t know how it is calculated uc but I was better off not having ca being deducted and just being a carer . I have no idea how that worked. The system is weird.

It works out exactly the same as carers allowance is deducted pound for pound from UC. Maybe seemed more as they average it, so weekly carers allowance x 52 divided by 12 id taken off each month.

sunshinesupermum · 10/05/2022 18:50

Talk to CAB.

Ragruggers · 10/05/2022 18:55

Yes you can claim carers allowance if 2 people have 2 children getting DLA at the higher amount Plus other allowances.Turnto us would be good to check how much you would get.

Hallyup89 · 10/05/2022 19:05

Yes I would have thought it was possible for you both to claim for one child each. It must be tough having two severely disabled children and I really feel for you. I know how tough it is with one. I hope you get the help you need.

Athenajm80 · 10/05/2022 19:56

I may be wrong, but I think whilst you can both get Carers Allowance, you can only get one "Carer's Element" on your UC claim. It's been 7 months since I worked there though, so like I said, I may be remembering incorrectly

Swipe left for the next trending thread