What are the criteria for a Universal Credit claimant to qualify for a Carer Element to be included when their award is assessed?
An additional element is included in the Universal Credit assessment where the claimant (or their partner) spends 35 hours a week or more caring for a severely disabled person / child.
The Carer Element continues for as long as the carer satisfies the 'carer test' ie provides care for at least 35 hours a week for a severely disabled person / child.
Carers Allowance does not need to be in payment to qualify ( UC regulation 30 )to be included in
0, Universal Credit Regulations be included in theward.
A 'severely disabled person' means someone who gets:
§ Mid or high rate care component of Disability Living Allowance, or
§ A daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, or
§ Armed Forces independence Payment, or
§ Attendance Allowance, or
§ Constant Attendance Allowance.
If the disabled person stops receiving this benefit, then the Carers Element will come to an end from the Monthly Assessment Period in which the disabled person loses it.
Universal Credit Regulation 29 states that as long as the conditions of entitlement for Carers Allowance are met (click here for more info), the Carer Element will be included - this includes those who are unable to get paid Carers Allowance because their earnings are too high.
No Carer Element will be included in a person's award where the carer is paid for caring.