Carers element of UC?

[ConfusedCarers]

Hi just looking for some advice, for the carers element of UC how does it work? I receive a small amount of UC per month towards childcare. My DS now gets Middle rate DLA but I work so can’t apply for carers allowance, can I still apply for the carers element of UC? Do I need to fill another big form out to show how I care for extra 35 hours? I’m just confused because I didn’t know I was classed as a carer for my child, is it just added automatically when I tell UC about the DLA?

Hi OP

you need to report a change on your account

1. That your child gets MRC as of XXX date
2. that you care for that child

you get two enhancement payments regardless of income declared

they should backdate both payments to the start of your child’s DLA. Don’t let them say they don’t backdate cos you didn’t inform them at the time! That’s rubbish. They do cos they should!

Thank you @HairyFeline, does the 35 hours of care need to be extra care towards my DS’s medical conditions/disability or does it mean the 35 hours that I usually care for him?

do I need to add up all the different ways I support him into hours and write it down for UC and send the evidence?

I am not clear on the carers element of UC but you will get a disabled child element for sure with kid rate DLA I think around £120 a month.

No, you don’t have to account for the hours, OP.
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@HairyFeline thank you

Hey sorry to jump in, I was just wondering if anyone knows how long for a decision for carers to be reinstated?

Nothing so complicated as that. DH and I each get a carer element because DD1 & DD2 have SN. DH works full time so doesn't get carers allowance. I don't work, so do get carers allowance. We just told them that information and the carers elements were added.

I was told 12 weeks when I rang last week

@justanothermanicmonday21 was that for a new claim or for it to be reinstated? Or is that classed as a new claim? X

Hi everyone,
Im confused also as my son was awarded middle rate care and low rate mobility. I sent a message on my journal for both child disability element and the carers element and received a response saying:

From our records, there is no carers allowance in payment. Thus, your caring activity cannot be verified.

im so confused and struggling as what I should do next.
any help would be appreciated.
Thanks on advance.

Sounds like the advisor doesn't know that carers element can be added to your UC without you claiming carers allowance. Have you reported a change on the HOME page of your journal that you are now a carer? It will then ask you for details of the person you care for and then it should be verified. There is no point just leaving a message, you need to report the change. I think for the disabled child element you need to also report a change under your children and add disabiity.

Thank you for your response it’s appreciated. I changed caring circumstances in reporting a change, I’ve left journal messages and I have also phoned them. I was told I would receive a response by the 18th of November and it’s even more frustrating as the message came from my case worker. Nothing was said about the child disability element only the carers element.

Hello wondering if any one can give some advice, my son was awarded MRC DLA in July, it's just come through so iv updated my U.C account with it, I was advised that once verified I would be issued a back payment, I then went on the next day and applied for the the careres element, this was almost immediately approved and added to my payement a few days later, the problem is the disabled child element hasn't been added, I would have thought they would have had to have verified my dla for careres element so surely they should have verified it for both.
TIA x

Usually with the disabled child element it gets added once you have changed the circumstances for your child on u.c . It’s the carers element that’s been a shambles. May I ask if you had your cares element backdated? Just phone up tomorrow and ask as leaving journal messages take forever for a response.

Iv requested that careres element be backdated and have been told its gone to a decision maker, they have now said because iv had to go into the "people i live with" section to add my sons DLA that i have to re- confirm all the people I live with wich is my two children, they are asking for birth certificates and child ben numbers wich iv obviously already given to them when first starting my claim, I assume that's why iv not been granted the disabled child element yet, thats whats confusing me, surely they would been to also have all this confirmed before allowing the careres element x

Hi after some advice I have posted in my journal but not received anything yet but both sons are entitled to hrc for DLA I'm a stay at home mum for Thier needs so I claim CA and get care element on UC but obviously I can only claim for one person as rules state but husband cares equally for one of our sons but also works so wouldn't be entitled to CA but would be entitled to the element on UC , I'm wondering if anyone's had anything similar and wether or not they get it back dated?
Thanks

@Abwill I get carer's allowance for DD1 (although deducted £ for £) and both DH & I get the carers' element for UC because we have two children with disabilities. DH works full time.

Thanks so much for the reply this is just like our circumstances, but we've not known husband can be named for the element untill now and we must have been entitled for 2 years in November, I wish they made known for these things .