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Original poster

Hi, RE caters allowance and the carers element of UC, could someone tell me what this means?

7 replies

sprinklesandshines · 09/06/2025 14:13

I stay with my disabled boyfriend half the week and applied for carers allowance yesterday. I realise I will lose my UC (I am on UC, ADP and I am LCW as I am epileptic and autistic) so I cancelled the application. I’ve instead applied for the carers element of UC and I’ve received this message from JC on my journal. What exactly does it mean?

also my partner also looks after me with my disabilities,, however he’s on LCWRA so I’m guessing he cannot apply for the carers element?

plesde don’t judge us for being on uc/ ADP as we are both regularly in hospital and doctors and really struggle

thanks guys

Hi, RE caters allowance and the carers element of UC, could someone tell me what this means?
OP posts:
Cleoleo · 09/06/2025 14:27

I get the carers element of UC - it actually reduces my UC by the same amount but the fact that I have it on my UC award and the number of hours I care for means I do not need to search for work.

I could have applied for Carers Allowance, which I think would also have reduced my UC and the need to work. But because Carers Allowance is taxable and I receive a small work pension (just over the presonal tax allowance), I would have lost 20% of the Carers Allowance to tax and so been worse off.

As far as I know, if you are over or near the tax theshold and are on UC, it is better to claim for caring through UC as you have done. Because UC is not taxable.

Cleoleo · 09/06/2025 14:30

Maybe you will actually receive the carers element of UC on top of your existing UC as well? - I don't, but that's because of my work pension
.

Original poster
sprinklesandshines · 09/06/2025 14:53

Cleoleo · 09/06/2025 14:27

I get the carers element of UC - it actually reduces my UC by the same amount but the fact that I have it on my UC award and the number of hours I care for means I do not need to search for work.

I could have applied for Carers Allowance, which I think would also have reduced my UC and the need to work. But because Carers Allowance is taxable and I receive a small work pension (just over the presonal tax allowance), I would have lost 20% of the Carers Allowance to tax and so been worse off.

As far as I know, if you are over or near the tax theshold and are on UC, it is better to claim for caring through UC as you have done. Because UC is not taxable.

I am actually on LCW so I don’t have to search for work anyway. I don’t get any pension.

OP posts:
Original poster
sprinklesandshines · 09/06/2025 14:54

Cleoleo · 09/06/2025 14:30

Maybe you will actually receive the carers element of UC on top of your existing UC as well? - I don't, but that's because of my work pension
.

That’s what I am hoping. But I’m not sure what they mean by saying “your caring activity has been verified” I don’t work am on LCW and don’t have a pension

OP posts:
Bromptotoo · 09/06/2025 20:08

Possibly a bit of confusion here.

If you get Carer's Allowance UC is reduced £/£ as both are intended to cover living costs/replace income. If you claim both you get Class 1 NIC's rather than Class 3 which only count for State Pension and some people find having CA fortnightly helps cash flow/budgeting.

However there is a Carer Element in UC of £201.68 with broadly the same criteria as Carers except without an earnings cut off so a Carer on UC will be £201.68 better off than a non carer.

@sprinklesandshines you're right, you can only get LCfWRA or Carer Element. I think Caring Activity verified simply means they've checked your partner gets PIP or an analogous benefit and that you're putting in the required hours.

Original poster
sprinklesandshines · 09/06/2025 22:37

Bromptotoo · 09/06/2025 20:08

Possibly a bit of confusion here.

If you get Carer's Allowance UC is reduced £/£ as both are intended to cover living costs/replace income. If you claim both you get Class 1 NIC's rather than Class 3 which only count for State Pension and some people find having CA fortnightly helps cash flow/budgeting.

However there is a Carer Element in UC of £201.68 with broadly the same criteria as Carers except without an earnings cut off so a Carer on UC will be £201.68 better off than a non carer.

@sprinklesandshines you're right, you can only get LCfWRA or Carer Element. I think Caring Activity verified simply means they've checked your partner gets PIP or an analogous benefit and that you're putting in the required hours.

Edited

Thanks. I have decided to not go for either and instead apply for LCWRA for myself.

OP posts:
Bromptotoo · 09/06/2025 23:08

sprinklesandshines · 09/06/2025 22:37

Thanks. I have decided to not go for either and instead apply for LCWRA for myself.

Show quote history

Carers will be added PDQ. There's a baked in wait for LCfWRA while you're assessed and you may not get it without appealing.

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