Child DLA & UC

[Itsbritneybitchh]

Posting here for traffic.

DS has been awarded Higher Rate Care DLA. I work full time but get a small amount of UC so I informed UC of the DLA award and they have said it has to go to a decision maker to see if the disabled child element can be added. DS is my 3rd child so I don’t receive UC child element for him. I haven’t claimed carers allowance due to me working full time but, as DS has been awarded DLA, I will be reducing my hours as of the end of next month to care for him and will claim CA then.

So I have a couple of questions of anyone knows the answer?

1. Why does it have to go to a decision maker? Surely it would be as simple as them looking on their system to see the award of DLA and adding the disabled child element to the claim?
2. Is it likely that I may not get the disabled child element because A. DS is my 3rd child and I do not get child element for him? B. I work full time? C. I haven’t claimed carers allowance?

Sorry if these questions seem dumb but I don’t have a clue about any of this stuff and just wondering if anyone in a similar position as myself could answer my questions.

Thanks

I guess the issues is you can't claim CA & earn more than £128 per week?

@NC6789012 ah ok! Thanks for that - I wouldn’t be entitled to CA even when I do cut my hours then.

With working tax I get a extra allowance and I don't claim carers.

Thanks @Equallyconfusing

I want to cut my hours as much as possible to look after DS so the disabled child element would be a massive help if I am entitled. Just pretty confused as to why a DM has to decide whether or not I’m entitled.

Just wait and see, maybe they were unsure and just said that. I honestly don't know.
Good luck

You’ll be entitled to it, it’s because they need a decision on if it can be backdated to when the dla started.

Have you also reported that you’re a carer? You’ll then get the carers element added which is about £163 a month less deductions for wages.

Unlike Carers Allowance there’s no earnings threshold for the carers element within UC so you don’t have to reduce your hours down to earning £128 to become entitled to it (unless you want to).

You will get the severely disabled child element even though it’s your third child - everything has to go to a decision maker so don’t worry about that!

I’m a welfare benefits caseworker (not for DWP!), would be happy to do a benefit check for you if you’d like

www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/how-much-youll-get/

Disabled child amount

You may get extra money if your dependent child is disabled. This Disabled Child Addition is paid at either a higher rate or a lower rate.

To qualify for the lower rate your child must be entitled to:

Disability Living Allowance, orChild Disability Payment in Scotland, orPersonal Independence Payment (for a child over 16)

To qualify for the higher rate your child must be:

entitled to Disability Living Allowance (higher rate care component), orentitled to Child Disability Payment in Scotland (higher rate care component), orentitled to Personal Independence Payment (enhanced rate), orbe certified blind

You can still receive a disabled child addition for a third or subsequent child, even if you do not get the basic child amount.

Thanks so much everyone for your help, I understand a bit more now!

@Blackjackontherocks - I didn’t know I could apply for the carers element of UC, I though you had to be getting CA to qualify for that! I’ve reported I’m a carer now so just awaiting outcomes 😊

@Itsbritneybitchh

Thanks so much everyone for your help, I understand a bit more now!

@Blackjackontherocks - I didn’t know I could apply for the carers element of UC, I though you had to be getting CA to qualify for that! I’ve reported I’m a carer now so just awaiting outcomes 😊

Yes you can definitely get the element without claiming CA. As long as you’re caring for DC for at least 35 hours in addition to a couple of other qualifying things.

Theoretically you should get it backdated to the date you claimed DLA (ie the date you called for the form) although I understand UC can be difficult about this in practice. I would ask for the backdating on your journal and then challenge by mandatory reconsideration if it’s not done. I would look up the UC regulations for you which say it should be backdated but I would need my reference books to find it quickly!

You should get the higher disabled child element which is around £400, then the carer element of £160 or so. These are added regardless of your income and you don't have to claim carers allowance to get carers element. All elements are subject to deductions for any wages. The decision maker bit is probably because they should backdate all this to when you first applied for DLA, but before they'll pay that they check that you don't owe any debts- if you do, I believe they use what they owe you to settle these debts first.