Carers element UC

[figandmaple16]

Hi,
Sorry if this post is in the wrong place!
I am unfortunately currently on UC. I care for my young son.
He gets high rate for both mobility and care. In UC we receive disabled child element (higher one). I don't receive carers allowance as, well, I never knew about that, and I haven't bothered to apply since I knew.
Anyway, my question is regarding carers element, should I be receiving this? Is it actually a thing??
Thanks.

Hi,

Yes you should be receiving Carers Element from UC as well. You can update that you are a Carer on your UC account by logging onto your UC account and on the home page you will see report a change click on that. If you scroll down you will see Caring for Someone and then follow the prompts from there and it will update that you're a Carer. You will then start receiving Carers Element with the rest of your UC payment once everything has been verified.

If you do decide to claim Carers Allowance later on it will be deducted from your UC award £1 for £1. So if you get £300 Carers Allowance they will deduct £300 from your UC award.

You are better off get carers element by telling universal credit on your journal, if you apply for carers allowance you get it taken away from your universal credit £ for £ so better off not doing that in my opinion. X

Yes it's a thing. Are you working any hours though? Watch the hours threshold.
Btw - have you claimed for council tax support if you're not working?

There's some sense in claiming Carers Allowance even though it's deducted £ for £ from UC - it means your NI contributions are paid if I remember right? And also can give you a weekly payment whereas UC is monthly, which can help with budgeting.

Thank you all for your replies. I have now completed this section on the UC journal and will receive the element. I wonder how long it will take and if I will see the element on my next payment due in two weeks?
I'll Also consider applying for carers allowance, so that my NI contributions are complete.
Thanks again!

If you are receiving child benefit for a child under 12 your NI credits are already being applied

How long have you been getting DLA for your son? If you specifically request it, UC may be able to backdate the carers element to that date. They won't unless you actually tell them you want them to though, the same as they don't tell you you're entitled to it in the first place!

I started getting DLA for my son 4 years ago. That moved to Scottish child payment in December 2021 but was not granted until March 2022. I started claiming UC January 2022, so I assume it will be backdated until then?

You will need to request a backdate, they won't do it automatically. It will go to a decision maker.

Hi everyone, I’m a 21 year old mum with 2 children my eldest has got severe asd he was awarded middle rate dla and we have also been awarded the disabled child element and carers element too, I don’t know much about it so I was thinking someone on here could help.
uc have agreed to backdate both so how long does it take for it to be backdated? I’ve also seen posts saying that uc class it as an overpayment and take it back is this also true?
thankyou

Hi there,

Sorry I wont be of much help as my son isn't getting dla anymore - just the Scottish equivalent.
All I do know is that it can take a week or two to get the back payment from uc, but you can ask on your journal when to expect it. And no, your backdated payment will not be seen as an over payment.