To ask how Unpaid Carers that Work are better off under Universal Credit Regime?

[TheHateIsNotGood]

Does anyone here know? I'm 59 and have pretty much worked for most of the last 40+years, been mostly single, been bringing up disabled ds for the past 20 years alone, no regrets.

Found that the only work that fits is to be wfh self-employed - otherwise I'd be unemployed or consistently sacked.

So, now DS is a young adult, I've been moved from Working Tax Credits to Universal Credit.

And wow! Whilst expecting a bit of a hit, it's a full-on side swipe! Yes, DS is no longer a Child, but his Autism still means I have to care for him in so many ways despite his age; which has inhibited my ability to progress my career a lot, never mind go out and socialize and find me a partner to share life's bills with, etc.

Again, such is life, No Regrets.

But what chanks my chain is, that under UC, the only recognition given to Carers is an additional £163.73 to the basic Standard Rate of £324.84 = £488.57 per month.

No Work Allowance at all. AND if you get Carers Allowance, which is only £67.50 pw for providing at least 35 hours of Care per week then this is deducted £ for £ @£292.73 from £488.57 per month.

And as another kick in the teeth Carers Allowance is described as "Unearned Income" in the UC Calculations.

YANBU - needs looking into
YABU - you and carers like you should be grateful and stfu

I’m in the same position. I’m absolutely broke and in a lot of debt. I can’t really afford to live. Getting even worse with the fuel business. I honestly don’t know what to do. I am educated and could work but my son requires so much help that I’m just not able to.

Isnt carers allowance deducted from tax credit too as its classified as income

It's rubbish but you should look into claiming limited capability for work for your DS to add to the pot

Isnt carers allowance deducted from tax credit too as its classified as income

Yes but not £1 for £1, the reduction rate for tax credits is (last I checked) 41p for every £1 above the earnings threshold.

Carers are worse off on UC which is shit when you consider the low rate of Carers Allowance (which works out as just 40p an hour for those providing 24/7 care) and the estimated £132 billion a year that unpaid carers save the government in social care costs.

I wish @MNHQ would take this issue up as a campaign seeing as it's an issue that disproportionately has a negative impact on women (around 60% of unpaid carers are women and women are more likely to take on caring roles).

I can't help but I hear you and it is not good enough.

Carer's allowance has always been treated as income for means-tested benefits, UC isn't any different in that respect.

It's better for carers than legacy benefits in one way: they can still get the carer's element if they earn above the threshold at which carer's allowance stops. On legacy benefits, once CA stops, the carer's premium stops too.

Now your son is an adult, your tax credits would have gone down a lot even if you'd stayed on them, because you'd no longer have got the child & disabled child elements, which are around £6k pa. Parents of children with disabilities always find it a struggle when the children reach the age when they are treated as adults and their money drops.

I'm not convinced you had to switch to UC though. Your working tax credit claim could have continued imo, albeit at a reduced rate, unless there were other changes around the same time, or you didn't meet the minimum hours for WTC, which are higher once you're not treated as a parent.

I think HMRC could have treated it as a change of circumstances. I'll check next week, I haven't dealt with tax credits for so long now, I've forgotten most of what I knew.

Thank you to all PP with their suggestions and yes DS has been recently awarded enhanced PIP, and this might be reflected in his UC payment entitlement, or it very well will not.

I was on WTC with CTC for many years and I can assure anyone who thinks they know better that, once you are no longer entitled to CTC, and are also a Carer, you are both treated as Individual Claimants.

So the impact of 20 years (and ongoing) of Caring on my ability to work and find work is completely disregarded, as is the Caring for a Disabled Adult.

I just think that a an Earnings Work Allowance, similar to those with Children, should also apply to Carers.

And I've been applying for possible jobs since August, no luck yet, hardly surprising where I live and who wants an aged crone who's made do under her own steam for 20 years.

I've still got a kid to look after, and probably will have to until I die as so far he's unable to function alone. Although he's 20 years old now.

Meanwhile, the old caring hag needs to pay the bills somehow and it would be really helpful if when this old bag does earn a bit of money, it was assumed that, without the Caring responsibilities I've had and will continue to have, I'd be earning a lot more than I do now.

It's bloody disgraceful really.

It does sound like the UC system is harsh on carers OP. I'm in the same position but I'm 'lucky' to be disabled myself, so I've stayed on tax credits as I claim as a disabled worker. I only work 16 hours at NMW but it's a decent amount for me as I get some CTC for a younger dc too. My DS lives at home and gets PIP at the enhanced rate and UC. He still needed an assessment for LCWRA but it was all paper-based and he was awarded with no problems. We use his UC towards household expenses so overall we are managing. Just make sure you claim everything you can - I'm still able to get things like discounted water rates, free prescriptions and warm home discount.

Thanks hyper and roz - it's good to know I'm not alone. I do claim everything I can, perversely almost a job itself once DS's admin needs are accounted for.

BUT really the current UC system actually penalises Carers who also work and seek work - if I have a good month and earn eg: £500 (a pittance really) then any entitlement to UC is completely wiped out AND my local Council assesses me for Council Tax each month. So after any 'good' month they take a big chunk.

I'm lucky enough to have a very small mortgage to keep a roof over our heads - just £250per month at the moment - couldn't rent a shed for that. BUT that isn't taken into account in any of the benefits this household receives. I suppose my 'unearned' Carers Allowance of £292.93 per month covers that.

It's all actually a bit laughable

The entire award was always taken off tax credits, however there was a severe disability add on......tbh the only people it really benefits are couples on full benefits and people who have partners that support them in full. They get to keep their carers in full.

Does your DS not get UC?? If he gets high rate PIP that will be £150 pw

YANBU. Unpaid/slave wages doesn't equal unearned. What a horrible way to word it, quite apart from the measly amount.

Well, I'm not sure yet how much DS will get each month, he got £256 for last month on mid-rate PIP, maybe his UC will increase.

Meanwhile, much as I always put DS first, what about me? As well as finding ways to crunch those pennies. pay the bills, care for ds, earn a pittance - for the next 8 years. unaided, constantly worrying - never mind all that has gone on before - that is not sustainable.

Just a little break for long-term Carers, just say £350 UC work allowance earnings disregard, it's not a big ask.

Or try fucking me over another way I hadn't thought of yet....

My son gets £600 a month UC. You need to apply for limited capability for work. It took over a year to get it for my son then the council took the back pay and money for his care costs. He goes to a day centre. It’s so utterly depressing and hard. I started a small business to help but it doesn’t bring in much and Im under a lot of stress with my son who goes berserk on a daily basis.