Help me calculate UC entitlement please?

[jestorfeastforsandra]

I'm a carer (I get carer's allowance for DS).

H works FT. 30k before tax.

2 children. 1 is disabled (gets higher rate care and mobility of DLA).

Don't get any UC because haven't applied. But various calculators seem to suggest we'd get about £1300 a month

Rent on HA property is £900.

My own calculations from doing it manually brings me to just over £1k

Could this really be true? Worth applying then? had no idea

I'm aware Carers allowance gets deducted but then they add in a carers element to the UC?

This will help https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

I used this and it's coming back as 1400 which seems very out

Your entitlements will be:

£578.82 (couple)
£315 (first child)
£269.58 (second child)
£456.89 (disabled child)
£189 (carer element)
£900 (housing)

Total entitlement before deductions £2709.29

Assuming your DH is on around £2k per month, total award would be around £1818

I think.

Thank you

Seems to be such a lot. I thought we were entitled to about £200 and never went for it in case they randomly decided we weren't etc

Didn't want the stress

Seem a lot of money to be getting for them to miscalculate and then have to pay back

OP, to know what housing you'd be entitled to, check what your LHA rate is for a 3 bedroom in your area.

You may need to apply for an extra bedroom for your child who gets DLA (this depends on age/sex of children).

As you said, the Carers Allowance will be deducted, think that works out at £332 deduction for the month

But yes, you will be entitled, I would apply ASAP as it won't be backdated.

Thank you. It's £209 a week for a 3 bed (LHA)

Do I need to explain when I apply that I have the 3 bed because my son can't share? Not sure what difference that makes or if they would calculate this automatically due to the higher rate disabled element etc

Yes, it is possible to be entitled to an extra bedroom if 2 children can't share, but what the DWP take to mean that they can't share may very different to your (or my!) notion of that.

You'll need to set out very clearly what aspects of the child's behaviour, equipment needs etc make it impossible for them to share.

Your UC housing entitlement would be £905.66 a month.

UC won't automatically assume your child needs an additional bedroom, it doesn't ask in the claim declaration, if you add a note on your journal and send it to the payments team, they'll send you a link for you to request it.