The Carer Element Of Universal Credit.

Welfare Benefits Adviser Lorraine Moss today writes in the Havering Daily.

If you are on universal Credit and care for someone who is in receipt of any rate of Attendance Allowance, any rate of The Daily Living Component of Personal Independence Payment ( PIP) and anyone who is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Mid Rate Care or above, you may be able to claim The Carers Element of Universal Credit.  Please see https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get,

You would have to provide care for the person for at least 35 hours per week.  Unlike Carers Allowance, you are not prevented from claiming The Carers Element if your earnings are above £128.00 per week (2020/2020).  However, Universal Credit is a means tested benefit therefore the amount of income that you receive  will determine the total amount of Universal credit that you will get.  Please see https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get.

You can only have one Carers amount included in your Universal Credit Claim unless you are claiming as a couple and are caring for two different people.  If you and someone else both care for the same person, only one of you can qualify for the Carers amount. 

Important Information To Consider Before Claiming For The Carers Element

If the person that you are caring for is in receipt of The Severe Disability Premium (SDP), their payments will stop.  The current rate of this premium is £66.95 per week.  It is therefore important that you check with the person that you caring for before making a claim.  Please see https://www.gov.uk/disability-premiums/eligibility.  You cannot get The Severe Disability Premium if someone is getting Carers Allowance or The Carers Element of Universal Credit for looking after you. 

If you want to procced with a claim for the Carers Element, you can apply online via your journal or alternatively you can call The Universal Credit Helpline on 0800 328 5644.