How do I add carers element to universal credit?

[PinkPolkaDotUmberella]

Got an existing UC, dh works full time earning 67K a year, we have 2 dc and rent from a HA, we get roughly £650pcm UC. I’ve been caring full time for my mil for a few years and recently found out from the district nurse that as mil gets PIP at the highest rate I am entitled to claim carers element from UC. How would I go about claiming this element? Mil doesn’t live with us but I care for her 7 days per week and over the minimum 35 hours a week.

You contact UC directly and let them know and they’ll add it for you. You can write it in the online journal if that’s easier. You can claim carers allowance separately too if your own earnings are under a certain amount although this will be cancelled out by the carers element on UC but still claim if you are able to as it will give you national insurance credits towards your state pension etc.

@Pepperedpickles thank you, I will go on and add a journal entry, that’s simple enough. I’ve been searching report a change of circumstances section for a form to fill out as assumed I would need to give mil details for them to verify. I gave up work to care for her as was the lower earn out the two of us, so the extra money will come in handy.

Your husband earns 67k a year and you get universal credit!

@ilovepixie yes that is correct, it goes off dh’s take home pay of 3951

How on earth do you qualify for UC if your husband earns £67k?

You must get a tiny amount of UC. Is it even worth the hassle or the journal nonsense?

@AnnaQuayInTheUk that isn’t really what the thread is about, I don’t work for DWP so I’m sure how it all works. As his earnings have increased over the years the UC has decreased, everything reported via HMRC.

From our latest statement
Standand allowance:- £628.10
Eldest child element:- £339
Second child element:- £292.81
Third child element:- £292.81
Disabled child element:- £158.76 (add on)
Housing element:- £850
total:- £2561.48

Take home pay:- £3951

3951-411=3,540
3540x.55=1,947
2561.48-1947=614.48
UC entitlement is £614.48

@SargeMarge over £600pcm with carers element added it will be over £800pcm so yes I think it’s worth it. It took me a couple of seconds to request.

No wonder this country is in a mess financially paying people earning £67k a year universal credit. And you want even more on top as well 🙄

The benefits system is just madness.

It really is shocking.

I’m all for the benefit state, as a safety net and to lift people out of poverty and make sure disabled people can live freely and independently and children are fed and anyone unemployed has help while they need it.

But to pay UC to a couple earning £67k. Fine to pay £150 a month towards the disabled child as they will have expenses that other children do not have. But why the restrict? Why are we as a country paying the rest of it? They earn enough. It’s madness and no wonder people are turning to political parties who promise change. But that change will include a whole lot of change for the worse, just because people want this nonsense to stop.

Just want to point out op that if your mother in law receives a severe disability premium on a benefit such as Pension credit then by you claiming carers element she is at risk of losing that. Just something you need to be aware of. People are generally sent out a letter when someone claim carers allowance or carers element for them so that they could block it if it is going to affect their benefits, but it may be an idea to check with her first.

That £150 is just the child disability element of UC. Op will also be getting DLA paid separately as well.

Yes posters will come along arguing that they have rent to pay like people can't pay their own rent on 67k. UC is a ridiculously generous benefit for some and awful for others. Very unfair.

That’s around how much UC I get and I don’t have any other money coming in

ETA: I do get ADP (Scottish version of PIP) too so UC isn’t my only money after all. But still…

I can’t believe what I’m reading. Someone earning 67k getting Universal Credit. No wonder this country is in such a mess. I want to cry.

I think people have generally just had enough and as the poster upthread said, people will vote in a party that come down hard and slash the benefits bill and then there will be many genuinely hard up people who will suffer. No-one is against a genuine safety net but things have spiraled out of control now..

This is absolutely bonkers. No wonder this country is bankrupt. Your husband is earning more than a Band 8 in the NHS and you are getting help with your rent? Why? Why?

This can’t be right, dh earns 3.5k pre tax I about £800 a month and we’ve been told no to uc with 2 dc even for childcare. What are we doing “wrong” as pp absolutely there should be disabled child support but cant see why getting uc?

Dont understant does your husband earn 3951 or 67k.

Do you have rent to pay and three kids ? If not then that is likely the difference

The £3951 is the net earnings per month which UC is calculated on.

I do wonder though if people start these threads to get others frothing? I mean the information that op has asked for is readily available on the Gov.uk site or very easy to leave a UC journal message to ask.

So you can get UC…but not full child benefit…make that make sense 🤣