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Original poster

Carers allowance new claim

30 replies

LilyRae · 07/12/2023 09:33

Hi I've recently put a claim in for carers allowance 25th November, has anyone applied recently if so what was your waiting time like? I've read 6 weeks and I've read upto 15 weeks?

Background

I don't work I'm on uc I've asked for it to be backdated the 3 months.

Thank you 😊

OP posts:
LauderSyme · 07/12/2023 09:39

My CA was awarded within a week of applying but that may have been because I applied the minute I was notified that qualifying DLA had been awarded to ds.

Original poster
LilyRae · 07/12/2023 09:47

My son was awarded last year but I was working so never claimed... I've asked for it to just be back dated the 3 months so I was hoping it wouldn't take ages but who knows, how long ago did you apply? Glad it was sorted quickly for you xx

OP posts:
LauderSyme · 07/12/2023 13:50

Sorry I have only just seen your reply. I applied around August/Sept 2022 - and I was amazed at the speed tbh!

Hopefully yours will be dealt with quickly too. And you are getting the disability premium via UC? All the best x

Original poster
LilyRae · 07/12/2023 16:11

Yeah I've had that for a while I earned too much to apply for carers last June but now I'm no longer working I decided to put in for it...

Thank you xxx

OP posts:
Nochoiceleft · 07/12/2023 16:19

Have you declared yourself as a carer on UC and are you getting the carer element?
Just in case you are not aware, Carers Allowance will be taking into account on your UC claim.

Original poster
LilyRae · 07/12/2023 17:26

Yeah I'm waiting for a outcome on that uc said they will deduct the carers £ for £ but I'll get the carers element to make it worth while claiming... thank you for the heads up xx

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 07/12/2023 19:30

Why does it matter how long it takes as you won't be any better off by claiming it as it's deducted in full from UC. Unless of course the carers allowance will be more than the UC you get. You can claim the Uc carers element without carers allowance being awarded.

Babyroobs · 07/12/2023 19:31

LilyRae · 07/12/2023 17:26

Yeah I'm waiting for a outcome on that uc said they will deduct the carers £ for £ but I'll get the carers element to make it worth while claiming... thank you for the heads up xx

Have you reported on your UC journal that you are a carer? you can claim the carers element more or less straight away from the next Uc assessment period. You don't need to wait for carers allowance to be awarded first.

Original poster
LilyRae · 07/12/2023 19:33

Yeah it's been added onto my claim its with a case manager to see if they can back date it to when his dla was awarded.

OP posts:
Catsknowbest · 09/12/2023 11:08

Nochoiceleft · 07/12/2023 16:19

Have you declared yourself as a carer on UC and are you getting the carer element?
Just in case you are not aware, Carers Allowance will be taking into account on your UC claim.

Exactly this. If you claim CA it will be deducted from UC. You should be claiming the carer element of UC instead.

Babyroobs · 09/12/2023 11:42

Catsknowbest · 09/12/2023 11:08

Exactly this. If you claim CA it will be deducted from UC. You should be claiming the carer element of UC instead.

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It is still beneficial for people to claim carers allowance though if they don't work or work very few hours as claiming carers allowance gives them a better class of NI contributions towards their state pension.

Nochoiceleft · 09/12/2023 11:42

@Catsknowbest don’t forget that carers allowance gives national insurance credits.

Nochoiceleft · 09/12/2023 11:43

@Babyroobs beat me to it 😁

Radiohorror · 09/12/2023 11:44

Mine took a week or so in August. I was amazed how quick it was - in fact I realised it had been approved because the money has gone into my account before I had a notification.

Babyroobs · 09/12/2023 11:44

Nochoiceleft · 09/12/2023 11:43

@Babyroobs beat me to it 😁

And it gives claimants a £10 Christmas bonus ! Not sure if that is deducted off Uc also but I would think not ?

Catsknowbest · 09/12/2023 11:46

Babyroobs · 09/12/2023 11:42

It is still beneficial for people to claim carers allowance though if they don't work or work very few hours as claiming carers allowance gives them a better class of NI contributions towards their state pension.

Show quote history

Yes I see your point but from an income only POV if on UC and able to declare as a carer with the correct criteria (the same used for CA) it is financially better; CA at approx £270 every 4 weeks would be deducted pound for pound from UC whereas the UC carers element is added at just under £190 per month to UC.

Babyroobs · 09/12/2023 11:50

Catsknowbest · 09/12/2023 11:46

Yes I see your point but from an income only POV if on UC and able to declare as a carer with the correct criteria (the same used for CA) it is financially better; CA at approx £270 every 4 weeks would be deducted pound for pound from UC whereas the UC carers element is added at just under £190 per month to UC.

Show quote history

Yes exactly people need to claim carers element as well to be better off. I advised that further up thread. I was just saying that for low or non earners they should also claim carers allowance for the NI contributions as well rather than just thinking there's no point in claiming it as I won't be better off.

Babyroobs · 09/12/2023 11:52

Babyroobs · 09/12/2023 11:50

Yes exactly people need to claim carers element as well to be better off. I advised that further up thread. I was just saying that for low or non earners they should also claim carers allowance for the NI contributions as well rather than just thinking there's no point in claiming it as I won't be better off.

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So many people don't know that they can still claim carers element even though they earn over the threshold for carers allowance. there must be a lot of people missing out on it sadly.

Catsknowbest · 09/12/2023 13:23

Babyroobs · 09/12/2023 11:52

So many people don't know that they can still claim carers element even though they earn over the threshold for carers allowance. there must be a lot of people missing out on it sadly.

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Just for real clarification if you claim CA you can't claim UC CE as well- once you are on CA you can have real problems getting it changed to UC CE. They won't allow them to be claimed alongside one another. But UC CE can also be claimed as part of working as long as the 35hrs per week care is being fully provided. It also has less earning restriction than CA, within the other earnings and entitlements criteria of UC so in many ways UC CE can be much better than CA- if you are on UC and meet the correct carers criteria you should always apply for that element as opposed to stand alone Carers Allowance.

Babyroobs · 09/12/2023 13:27

Catsknowbest · 09/12/2023 13:23

Just for real clarification if you claim CA you can't claim UC CE as well- once you are on CA you can have real problems getting it changed to UC CE. They won't allow them to be claimed alongside one another. But UC CE can also be claimed as part of working as long as the 35hrs per week care is being fully provided. It also has less earning restriction than CA, within the other earnings and entitlements criteria of UC so in many ways UC CE can be much better than CA- if you are on UC and meet the correct carers criteria you should always apply for that element as opposed to stand alone Carers Allowance.

Show quote history

The first line of this is totally incorrect. They can both be claimed together.

Original poster
LilyRae · 09/12/2023 14:48

Yeah they said my carers element will be on my nx payment breakdown on 27th December, I was thinking would be good if I get the payment before Christmas ( unlikely I know ) but then I thought lastnight it doesn't matter if I do as I can't touch it because uc will say I've had a overpayment I've goto pay back for that amount so it will be going directly to uc anyways when I am in receipt of it and its backdated lol ah well xxx

OP posts:
Catsknowbest · 09/12/2023 15:15

Have you claimed both together?

Original poster
LilyRae · 09/12/2023 15:25

Yh the carers element has been sorted out the carers allowance hasn't been awarded yet x

OP posts:
1Strawberrycat · 13/12/2023 03:07

How much is carers element?

Original poster
LilyRae · 13/12/2023 07:42

Just thought I'd update I called Monday and they said it was awarded on the Sun and letter was sent out, backdated payment will be in my bank Monday so it took 15 days for them to award it goodluck everyone waiting xxx

OP posts: