How to apply for Carer's element?

[Toli]

I can't find anywhere how you go about applying for the carers element of UC as an independent claim, not including Carers Allowance; does anyone know how you apply for just the carers element?

Declare a change of circumstance on your journal and declare yourself a carer I think. They may need to know who you are caring for and if someone else is claiming the carers allowance I'm not sure you can claim it. Also if you are claiming it for caring for an elderly parent or person then you need to be careful as it could affect their benefits .

Thank you very much @Babyroobs, it'd be for my husband and we have a joint claim so it shouldn't affect us if I'm correct?

That should be fine then , as long as he's getting PIP or DLA. It's an extra £160 on your Uc amount each month. They should be able to cross check that he is getting the PIP as all administered by DWP.

Thanks so much @Babyroobs, he gets PIP
I'm just wondering what date I put down as the start of this change? It's been like this for about 7/8 months now where he's really needed help but I'm worried if I put that, they'll ask why I didn't say so sooner? Should I just put today?

I don't think there's any harm in asking for it to be back dated . they can only say no and if asked you could just say you didn't know you could claim it. As long as he's been receiving PIP for that period of time and you have ben giving 35 hours of care it should be fine.

Did you declare your carers allowance as income? As this will be deducted from your UC.

MyDc - I read it that op isn't claiming Carers Allowance ? It's possible to just claim carers element and not carers allowance especially if earnings are above the threshold for claiming carers allowance.

Yes you a right , I misread sorry.