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Original poster

Universal credit and carer's

16 replies

DawnJ1968 · 07/04/2022 21:42

Does anyone know if I stop claiming carer's allowance even though I am still careing for 35 hours. will I still get the carer's element of UC. I've read if your getting PIP you will still receive the element in uc

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 07/04/2022 21:50

@DawnJ1968

Does anyone know if I stop claiming carer's allowance even though I am still careing for 35 hours. will I still get the carer's element of UC. I've read if your getting PIP you will still receive the element in uc
Yes you can still claim carers element of Uc as long as caring for 35 hours. There is no earnings limit for carers element like there is with carers allowance.
Babyroobs · 07/04/2022 21:50

Just to clarify - is it your partner who is getting PIP not you?

Canyouanswermyquestion · 08/04/2022 22:33

You will still get it, I do x

Beckim88 · 25/09/2022 10:42

Hello I am in a very confusing situation I claim uc and I get the middle rate component I care for my son over 35 hours a week I reported this change and asked for the child disability element and the carer element .
I have been told by uc I need to claim carers allowance to get the carer element and until then I should re report my caring changes I have told them I am entitled to it without carers allowance it’s just back and forth on my journal I have spoke with citizens advice and they tell me I am entitled as I get middle care rate .
I have asked them to look into it again and they just totally refuse and tell me to claim ca to get the carer element even on .gov website claimants don’t need carers allowance to get care element. All the claimeng needs is middle or high rate care proving the care for 35 hours which my dla award states . I am very stressed out please could anyone reply and what I should next I am going round in circles with the uc advisors Thankyou

Babyroobs · 25/09/2022 11:10

Beckim88 · 25/09/2022 10:42

Hello I am in a very confusing situation I claim uc and I get the middle rate component I care for my son over 35 hours a week I reported this change and asked for the child disability element and the carer element .
I have been told by uc I need to claim carers allowance to get the carer element and until then I should re report my caring changes I have told them I am entitled to it without carers allowance it’s just back and forth on my journal I have spoke with citizens advice and they tell me I am entitled as I get middle care rate .
I have asked them to look into it again and they just totally refuse and tell me to claim ca to get the carer element even on .gov website claimants don’t need carers allowance to get care element. All the claimeng needs is middle or high rate care proving the care for 35 hours which my dla award states . I am very stressed out please could anyone reply and what I should next I am going round in circles with the uc advisors Thankyou

Yes you can claim it without carers allowance as long as no-0ne else is claiming carers allowance for caring for your son. the only resoan you would not be able to claim carers element is if you claim LCWRA yourself due to you not being fit to work as you cannot get that and carers element.

Beckim88 · 25/09/2022 11:22

The jobcenter advisors have told me I need carers allowance to get the care element I am not claiming anything else that would prevent this ..
everytime I speak with them and tell them I am entitled without ca They tell me I’m wrong Do I think it’s best to just go into the jobcenter with all my evidence and request them to look into it again and ask for evidence of them why I need carers allowance as I am not getting anywhere on my online line journal thanks for replying I am at a real loss and stressed out .
can Citzens advise intervene with the jobcenter and tell them that I am entitled and should be awarded on my claim

Babyroobs · 25/09/2022 11:38

Beckim88 · 25/09/2022 11:22

The jobcenter advisors have told me I need carers allowance to get the care element I am not claiming anything else that would prevent this ..
everytime I speak with them and tell them I am entitled without ca They tell me I’m wrong Do I think it’s best to just go into the jobcenter with all my evidence and request them to look into it again and ask for evidence of them why I need carers allowance as I am not getting anywhere on my online line journal thanks for replying I am at a real loss and stressed out .
can Citzens advise intervene with the jobcenter and tell them that I am entitled and should be awarded on my claim

Ask for it to be referred to your case manager. Job centre advisors rarely know much about Uc legislation. People can be earnings a full time wages so be way above the earnings threshold for claiming carers allowance and still be able to claim carers element. They are advising you totally wrongly. I would leave a message for yur case manager on your journal - I believe if you put the message under 'payments' when it asks what your message is ablut, then that should go staright to your case manager. Report on your UC home page that you are a carer if you have not already done so and then send a message to your case manager asking for carers element to be added.

Babyroobs · 25/09/2022 11:42

You could also try making a complaint. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/complaints-procedure

Beckim88 · 25/09/2022 12:02

It was my case manager that has told me to claim the carers allowance firstly and then re re report my caring to them .. I agree with you that are totally advising me wrong I have a appointment at the job Center on Friday with my work coach so I will ask for why im not entitled to the carer element and ask to see supporting evidence of why my case manager has decided this . I will take my dla award In aswell .. my friend told me to claim the carers allowance so than them care element will b added and then stop claiming it and the care element should still be on my award . I may do this if they still refuse to award me it or I may make a compliant what do u think ia
best

Babyroobs · 25/09/2022 12:16

Beckim88 · 25/09/2022 12:02

It was my case manager that has told me to claim the carers allowance firstly and then re re report my caring to them .. I agree with you that are totally advising me wrong I have a appointment at the job Center on Friday with my work coach so I will ask for why im not entitled to the carer element and ask to see supporting evidence of why my case manager has decided this . I will take my dla award In aswell .. my friend told me to claim the carers allowance so than them care element will b added and then stop claiming it and the care element should still be on my award . I may do this if they still refuse to award me it or I may make a compliant what do u think ia
best

The problem is claiming carers allowance can take 12 weeks currently to be awarded. I honestly can't believe they are misadvising you like this. I would dig out the relevant legislation and quote it to them. Sometimes that is the only way. I hope you manage to get some help. maybe the citizens advice help to claim team may be able to help although I think maybe they only deal with first time claims.

Babyroobs · 25/09/2022 12:22

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2013/9780111531938/part/4/crossheading/particular-needs-or-circumstances-carers
Here is the relevant legislation. tell your case manager to look at the Uc regulations Section 30 Paragraphs 1& 2. It is clearly stated there that you can claim carers allowance whether you have made a claim for carers allowance or not as long as you meet the substantive caring requirements.

Beckim88 · 25/09/2022 12:30

Yes I am very stressed out about it Iv had a really tough year getting dla for my son I never expected to have to fight for what I’m entitled to aswell .. I am going to take all the relevant evidence including the quotes on entitlement to care element from citizens advice and other charity’s .. the funny thing is I went on .govuk and there I found the requirements the job Center have to follow reguarding disability awards and entitlements . It’s says in black and white the claimant needs to be caring 35 hours a week in receipt of middle or higher dla care to be able to claim the care element . The claimant does Not need to claim carers allowance for this I have screen shotted this as this is what they are suppose to follow . I wonder what they will say to that ?? I am going on Friday I’m so stressed out with it I have also written again in my journal explaining all this again see what they write back because it will be before my app on Friday I’m just disgusted in how they are clearly making their own rules up

Babyroobs · 25/09/2022 12:34

Beckim88 · 25/09/2022 12:30

Yes I am very stressed out about it Iv had a really tough year getting dla for my son I never expected to have to fight for what I’m entitled to aswell .. I am going to take all the relevant evidence including the quotes on entitlement to care element from citizens advice and other charity’s .. the funny thing is I went on .govuk and there I found the requirements the job Center have to follow reguarding disability awards and entitlements . It’s says in black and white the claimant needs to be caring 35 hours a week in receipt of middle or higher dla care to be able to claim the care element . The claimant does Not need to claim carers allowance for this I have screen shotted this as this is what they are suppose to follow . I wonder what they will say to that ?? I am going on Friday I’m so stressed out with it I have also written again in my journal explaining all this again see what they write back because it will be before my app on Friday I’m just disgusted in how they are clearly making their own rules up

It sounds like you just have a really bad case manager. It's not even as though it's some obscure situation that rarely arises ! Virtually all case managers should know this basic stuff, they must deal with it every day!

Beckim88 · 28/09/2022 05:24

Hi I juSt wanted to say Thankyou for your support
I had a conference call with citizens advice and the universal credit today she was fantastic she requested a new case manager due to being Mis advised and quoted all legislation on dwp website . Within a hour i had a journal message from a new case manger to say the carer element has been awarded and will b adjusted on my next statement he also said because I reported the changes and of caring and the child disability element when I got the letter and not when the dla was awarded from .. like how could I when it takes three months for a descion I reported the changes on September ? its gone to a decision maker to see if they wil back date it from may so should both elements be back dated to may I will upload the result that I got three hours after it went to the decision maker it’s all happened really fast have I been awarded back pay for it all Thankyou again

Universal credit and carer's
Babyroobs · 28/09/2022 08:22

Beckim88 · 28/09/2022 05:24

Hi I juSt wanted to say Thankyou for your support
I had a conference call with citizens advice and the universal credit today she was fantastic she requested a new case manager due to being Mis advised and quoted all legislation on dwp website . Within a hour i had a journal message from a new case manger to say the carer element has been awarded and will b adjusted on my next statement he also said because I reported the changes and of caring and the child disability element when I got the letter and not when the dla was awarded from .. like how could I when it takes three months for a descion I reported the changes on September ? its gone to a decision maker to see if they wil back date it from may so should both elements be back dated to may I will upload the result that I got three hours after it went to the decision maker it’s all happened really fast have I been awarded back pay for it all Thankyou again

That's great news. I'm glad it seems to be getting sorted.

Zebby00 · 06/05/2023 02:17

Does anyone know how long does carer process take? And do you have to be caring for someone for certain amount of time before you can apply for carer element on UC

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