Transferring Carer’s Allowance and transitional protection

[Vanillalover84]

Universal Credit help please! When I migrate to Universal Credit in the next few weeks, I will be claiming Carer's Allowance. I am a single parent, full time unpaid carer. I will be entitled to transitional protection. Two of my children are on DLA middle rate and, later this year, the child that my Carer's Allowance is linked to will turn 16 and will put in a claim for PIP. If they don't get awarded PIP and the Carer's Allowance stops for a period, until I can transfer the Carer's Allowance to the other child, then restarts again, would this affect my transitional protection?

What are you migrating from? Tax credits?

Only significant changes will end your transitional protection:

•	a partner moving into your household
•	a different partner moving into your household
•	a partner leaving your household
•	your earnings drop below an agreed amount for 3 months in a row
•	your Universal Credit claim ends

www.gov.uk/guidance/transitional-protection-if-you-receive-a-migration-notice-letter

Also just to say that carers allowance is deducted pound for pound from your UC award, but you will receive a carer element instead. When confirming entitlement, just mention both children you care for and there won't be any interruption.

Yes, Tax Credits, income support, housing benefit…

For UC you don’t need to claim carers allowance to get the carers element. Timing is everything and you are correct that changes in premiums / allowances can definitely affect transitional protection. When you claim UC put the carer element on for your youngest child. Get some informed advice about whether it’s worth claiming carers allowance.

Have you been given a date to move over to UC? I didn't think IS claimants we're being moved yet, Tax Credit only are the first to go and that's not complete yet.

Yes, I got a migration notice today.

Another worry I have got is that changing circumstances (ie moving the child I am ‘caring for’ during this period now that I have had my migration notice) might affect my right to transitional protection? It is all so confusing…😫

I'm supporting TC customers who haven't been migrated yet, seems strange to start moving IS.

As PP has said, Carers Allowance is deducted from UC, then a caring element, £198 is added on. Still worth claiming CA as it gives you National insurance credits. You declare you are a carer, the form asks you for and you will state the person you claim CA for.

In the scenario that your son didn't get a PIP award, you would report to UC that caring had ended for him and you'd then report caring for your other child.

Make sure yoy do claim carers allowance even if you don't financially benefit. It gives you national insurance credits and will allow yoy to claim a state pension

Carer's Allowance isn't part of the migration, it's not an income based benefit and won't be taken into consideration for migration.

Can't you just ring Carers Allowance people and say you want to claim for youngest DC instead of elder child.

Unfortunately it doesn’t work like that. You have to put in a whole new claim, which can take about 16 weeks to approve….

@Vanillalover84 you are receiving mixed messages on here you are correct that a carers allowance claim can take 16 weeks but you don't need to have carers allowance to have the carer element. But if you claim it and get backdate you will owe UC the money.

The transfer to UC is not as straight forward as it first looks and you are right it is confusing. There is a 3 month window to make a claim, meanwhile you would be wise to get some informed tailored advice.

You will get class 3 NI contributions through UC for pension but if you want class 1 you need the actual cares allowance.

@Thejackrussellsrule carers is not means tested but the income and premiums count for transitional protection and missing out has been identified as an issue. The government roll out has said that income support is included from April. It's worrying that your employer has not passed this on if you are supporting people.

Thanks for everyone's help. Update! Spoke to Citizens Advice. They said as long as such a switch was made in same assessment period, it wouldn't affect the entitlement to transitional protection. Hope this helps anyone wondering.Thanks for everyone's comments.