Advice with dla, universal credit and applying as a carer

[Winxx]

My little one has been awarded dla but I hope someone can help me with the next step informing uc and applying to be dds carer.

I just received a text today from dla saying they’ve made their decision and dd qualifies and the letter will arrive within 2 weeks.

Should I add an entry in my journal now or wait until the letter comes?
Can I apply to be dd’s carer?

Thank you for any advice x

You can add a note to your journal now saying he has been awarded but you are awaiting the award letter and ask what the next steps are.

You MUST ask for your allowance to be backdated to the date you were awarded DLA from in the note - your award date is usually the date that the DLA team received your claim form.

It’s very straight forward, don’t worry. Once I had uploaded the DLA letter to my UC account they calculated everything for me.

They will add the carers element on automatically too.

Hi OP

I don’t claim universal credit so unsure how that element works. I claim carers allowance as my DD receives high rate care. As far as I am aware your child would need to be awarded either high or middle rate DLA to be awarded carers allowance. If you work you can only earn so much before you lose your monetary entitlement but I am unsure of the threshold amounts right now. I do not work as I am DD’s full time carer (she is currently out of education.)

I am in NI so the process may be different here, but once she was awarded DLA I then filled out a separate form to apply for carers allowance and posted it back to them, they then awarded from date of DD’s award.

You may have more luck asking this post to be moved to SEN or SN children, the parents there likely have more experience with DLA an carers allowance applications.

Good luck!

If I remember rightly (happy to be corrected!) but if you claim carers allowance separately it will impact on your UC entitlement.

Carers Allowance is classed as unearned income, so UC will deduct it from your entitlement pound for pound. It’s usually better to just claim the carers element of UC instead.

thank you both so much. @ItsPickleRick I don’t think mine can be backdated as I sent the form late? Very annoyed as I paid special delivery but it still came late!
If I were to ask, do ask UC by adding another note in the journal once the letter arrives?

I didn’t realise they add the carers element automatically, as @Thatsnotevenmyusername mentioned I thought I had to apply.

unfortunately I’m not able to work yet as dd has so many appts and other health concerns no setting will take her. I was advised to apply as uc were not understanding of this and I’ve now had to go to weekly fedcap meetings with dd in tow! Very difficult to work around appts and other support.

Thanks so much though, I will follow your advice pickle and let them know now x

@ItsPickleRick how do I claim the carers element of uc instead?

You will need the letter to know the rates and dates. Once you know that, you can report a change on your journal. Then also leave a message in your journal request it is backdated - even if the DLA isn’t backdated to when you called, and sometimes it can be if you returned it late with good reason, DLA should be backdated to when they received the form, so the UC element(s) will still need to be backdated.

You will be eligible for the disabled child element. Or if DD has been awarded HRC, the severely disabled child element.

If DD has been awarded MRC or HRC, you will be eligible for the carer element. Don’t rely on that being added automatically. You should report a change on your journal for this too and request it is backdated.

Even though carer’s allowance is deducted £ for £ from UC, it is still worth claiming CA because it gives better NI credits than UC.

UC will apply it automatically usually, but it’s worth doing the change of circs too as a PP said.

Carers element of UC is different from Carers Allowance. If you claim Carers Allowance (nothing to do with UC), UC will count it as income and you will lose some of your UC monthly payment. It’s often not worth claiming Carers Allowance because you will be no better off.

UC will still backdate everything from the DLA award date, you just need to ask them to do so in the note in your journal.

You won’t be better off in monetary terms now, but it is still worth claiming CA because of the better class of NI credits.

Than you very much everyone. Such knowledgeable advice.
Just one more question, when making a note in my journal and requesting back dated payment. Do I say something like,

”informing of change in circumstances, dd has been awarded dla but I am still waiting for the letter. Please can you backdate any payments from the award date. I will upload the letter when it arrives.”

I am so sorry you’re having to spell it out for me but I’ve just got no clue! Thank you x

You can request backdating by leaving a written message like you have posted (although personally I would just wait for the letter so you know the dates and rate because without knowing those, UC can’t do anything), but you will need to also report a change under children and people who live with me (and for this you will need the letter to know the rate/date). And if DD has been award MRC or HRC, also report a change under the caring for someone bit.

Thank you @ChasingMoreSleep so helpful !