Carer's allowance deducted from UC?

[Yesimmoaningaboutbenefits]

I get that it's classed as income, hence the deduction, but why? I thought it was to cover the extra expenses of being a carer? Travel etc.

(And god forbid you wanting to have some kind of financial compensation for giving up a well-paid career to care for a loved one that the LA has failed spectacularly).

The main reason by my understanding is to prevent you from receiving a double benefit so you can’t get two full payments from income replacement benefits, it’s to avoid duplicate support. You should still get more overall though due to UC carer element.

I don't understand how it's duplicate support though? UC is for anyone with low income. Carer's allowance is only if you're a carer. And carer's element is only around half of carers allowance. I don't understand why I can't have the full carer's allowance if I'm a carer. It shouldn't be based off my DHs income, it's effectively my wages for doing the job the LA should be doing (but don't).

Sorry if that comes off argumentative. I'm just well and truly pissed off with the system. I've had to give up work because of LA failings. Household income is now half of what it was but bills are the same. We're screwed and stuck.

It’s duplicate support because both UC and Carer’s Allowance are “income replacement benefits”, so you can’t receive the full amount of both because then you’d be essentially having your income replaced twice. It’s also because it’s classed as unearned income and the standard policy is that unearned income is deducted in full.

It can feel unfair though I agree.

Carers Allowance is non earned income so it's deducted £ for £ from UC. It's still worth claiming Carers Allowance because it gives you Class 1 NI credits rather than the Class 3 NI credits that UC gives. You can also claim the Carers Element of UC.