Universal credits

Mildred88 · 2025-01-22T13:20:53+00:00

Not sure if anyone can answer this. my son was awarded DLA for profound hearing loss and a growth in his brain. This is new to us, as he has had his hearing for 6 years and this last year he has lost it due to the growth. i had a back payment from DLA. And updated UC to say when he was awarded the DLA. I was told someone would contact me about back dating the UC. Today I’ve received a letter stating I’m only owed £91 as they removed a transitional security payment since July due to being awarded DLA from August. I was given transitional payments when they changed me from tax credits to UC. im not sure the reason as to why they now remove the transitional payment or in their words “erode” it, due to my son being diagnosed disabled through no fault of his own.

Bromptotoo · 22/01/2025 13:48

Now he has DLA are you his Carer and were you expecting a Carer Element to be added to your UC?

Miley1967 · 22/01/2025 16:47

That's the way transitional protection works. When your UC elements go up ( yours will have gone up by the disabled child element), then this will erode your transitional protection. You are no worse off than anyone else in the same situation as you were likely already getting more UC than someone else in the same situation who has only ever claimed UC. And you have the DLA paid seperately. As above you can now also add the UC carers element but that is likely to also erode your transitional protection if there's any left to be eroded . Unfortunately this is just the way it works. How much was your transitional protection ( it should say on your UC statement) and what rate of DLA care component was he awarded?

Original poster

Mildred88 · 22/01/2025 17:01

Bromptotoo · 22/01/2025 13:48

Now he has DLA are you his Carer and were you expecting a Carer Element to be added to your UC?

Well I wasn’t, but the girl on journal said I should apply for it, which I don’t get carers allowance so wasn’t sure I could

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Original poster

Mildred88 · 22/01/2025 17:03

Miley1967 · 22/01/2025 16:47

That's the way transitional protection works. When your UC elements go up ( yours will have gone up by the disabled child element), then this will erode your transitional protection. You are no worse off than anyone else in the same situation as you were likely already getting more UC than someone else in the same situation who has only ever claimed UC. And you have the DLA paid seperately. As above you can now also add the UC carers element but that is likely to also erode your transitional protection if there's any left to be eroded . Unfortunately this is just the way it works. How much was your transitional protection ( it should say on your UC statement) and what rate of DLA care component was he awarded?

Edited

the TP was 134 and UC are paying 156 so they said they owed me the difference only

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Bromptotoo · 22/01/2025 17:07

Mildred88 · 22/01/2025 17:01

Well I wasn’t, but the girl on journal said I should apply for it, which I don’t get carers allowance so wasn’t sure I could

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Are you better off by the sum by which the Carer Element and/or Disabled Child Addition exceeds the Transitional Element?

If so then that's how it works as @Miley1967 says.

Miley1967 · 22/01/2025 18:47

Mildred88 · 22/01/2025 17:03

the TP was 134 and UC are paying 156 so they said they owed me the difference only

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Yes that sounds correct then. You should see an increase in your UC by adding the carers element though which is an extra £198 a month and you can also ask for this to be backdated.

Original poster

Mildred88 · 22/01/2025 19:02

Miley1967 · 22/01/2025 18:47

Yes that sounds correct then. You should see an increase in your UC by adding the carers element though which is an extra £198 a month and you can also ask for this to be backdated.

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How does this work? The lady on the UC journal has mentioned applying for it but I am very new to all this, I work but have had to change my job to work remotely as sometimes my son is hospitalised and I work from the ward as I work for the nhs anyway.
I also have to work from home as he unfortunately comes home from school regularly with severe headaches and will refuse his hearing aids with the headaches.
I didn’t think I could get carers whilst working (even though currently I’m off sick)

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BlwyddynNewydd · 22/01/2025 19:25

You can get the carers element. You are able to work and claim it. As long as you provide 35hrs of care a week- which I am sure you do.

Go into your UC account.
Tell us about a change
And change the carer status

Also make a note on the journal of the date he was awarded DLA from

Kaffiene · 22/01/2025 19:30

What rate of DLA did he get?

There is one rate of UC for children with low rate and mid rate care and another for high rate care. You get child element and then disabled (or severely disabled) child element.

You can also claim the carers element (which is different from carers allowance) if he get mid or high rate care.
the mobility rate isn’t relevant to UC

Miley1967 · 22/01/2025 19:40

Mildred88 · 22/01/2025 19:02

How does this work? The lady on the UC journal has mentioned applying for it but I am very new to all this, I work but have had to change my job to work remotely as sometimes my son is hospitalised and I work from the ward as I work for the nhs anyway.
I also have to work from home as he unfortunately comes home from school regularly with severe headaches and will refuse his hearing aids with the headaches.
I didn’t think I could get carers whilst working (even though currently I’m off sick)

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As per posts above. Just go to home page of journal and report a change that you are now a carer. Carers element does not have an earnings threshold like carers allowance does so you can work full time and still be better off.

Original poster

Mildred88 · 22/01/2025 20:21

BlwyddynNewydd · 22/01/2025 19:25

You can get the carers element. You are able to work and claim it. As long as you provide 35hrs of care a week- which I am sure you do.

Go into your UC account.
Tell us about a change
And change the carer status

Also make a note on the journal of the date he was awarded DLA from

Thank you, yes, unfortunately their dad died 5 years ago so I am the only person who can care for him anyway too.

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Original poster

Mildred88 · 22/01/2025 20:21

Miley1967 · 22/01/2025 19:40

As per posts above. Just go to home page of journal and report a change that you are now a carer. Carers element does not have an earnings threshold like carers allowance does so you can work full time and still be better off.

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Thank you for your help, will apply this evening

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Original poster

Mildred88 · 22/01/2025 20:22

Kaffiene · 22/01/2025 19:30

What rate of DLA did he get?

There is one rate of UC for children with low rate and mid rate care and another for high rate care. You get child element and then disabled (or severely disabled) child element.

You can also claim the carers element (which is different from carers allowance) if he get mid or high rate care.
the mobility rate isn’t relevant to UC

He gets middle rate DLA.

I will apply this evening for the carers element and see if it’s awarded or not,

thank you for your help

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Kaffiene · 22/01/2025 20:28

Make sure you ask for them to back date it to that date the award started and that you didn’t tell them sooner because you didn’t realise you had to specifically ask for it.
They should add it going forward quite quickly and say the backdating needs to go to a decision maker which may take time but they should do it.

BlwyddynNewydd · 22/01/2025 20:36

Sorry to hear that you're on your own, and the children have lost their dad. It's hard being a single parent, and looking after a child with additional needs x