Unpaid carers eligible for extra £164 a month outside of Carer’s Allowance – how to claim

Care: Research shows a quarter of UK adults are carers

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A Carer Element is available to those who get Universal Credit through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and is £163.73 per month. Universal Credit claimants are able to receive this element if they look after someone for at least 35 hours per week. Applicants do not need to be claiming Carer’s Allowance to apply for this element of Universal Credit.

However, the person they care for must be in receipt of at least one of the following disability payments:

  • Attendance Allowance
  • The highest or middle rate care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Child Disability Payment
  • The daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • The Armed Forces Independence Payment

While Carer’s Allowance claimants are stopped from getting the full amount if they earn above a specific threshold of £128 a week, the Carer’s Element does not have a similar cut off.

Despite this, Universal Credit is means-tested which means someone’s earnings and other income will impact how much payment they will get.

For those who are making a joint claim, couples are able to get Carer’s Element each if they both qualify for it.

It should be noted that couples who make a joint claim are not allowed to be looking after the same disabled person or individual in need.

On top of this, claiming the Carer’s Element of Universal Credit could affect the benefits the carer is looking after.

Helen Walker, the Chief Executive of Carers UK, shared her concern for the plight of unpaid carers in the UK, particularly in light of the soaring cost of living.

Ms Walker explained: “We are seeing unprecedented levels of stress where financial worry is piling yet more pressure on carers.

“With low levels of services, carers are going to be facing an extremely difficult winter with the rising costs of living, increased energy prices, a social care staffing crisis and a chronically underfunded system.

“For years carers have been propping up our health and care system at a huge cost to their own personal health, finances and ability to stay in work.

“Throughout the pandemic they carried a huge load, with 81 percent taking on more care for relatives and 72 percent unable to take any breaks at all from their caring role.”

According to research carried out by Carers UK, one in five unpaid concerns are worried they will not be able to cope financially over the next 12 months.

Speaking on behalf of this group, Ms Walker explained why Carer’s Allowance needs to be reviewed to assist more people it is supposed to help.

She added: “They desperately need support to regain quality of life and enable them to continue caring.

“The Government must recognise the toll being placed on unpaid carers and ensure that social care reform delivers for carers.

“As it stands, providing unpaid care is pushing thousands of families into poverty and will have a lasting impact on their finances and quality of life.

“Carer’s Allowance, the lowest benefit of its kind, must be reviewed. The Earning Threshold of Carer’s Allowance must be increased to ensure that carers are able to choose to work and are protected from financial hardship.”

On the support provided to carers outside of Carer’s Allowance, a DWP spokesperson said: “We recognise the valuable role of unpaid carers – especially during the pandemic – and remain committed to helping them financially, along with their health, wellbeing and employment chances.

“Universal Credit includes a carer’s element worth more than £160 a month and since 2010 we have increased Carer’s Allowance, putting an additional £700 a year in carers’ pockets.

“Those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance may be entitled to other support, including benefits.”

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