Housing Systems: Combating poverty and sustaining tenancies.
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Monthly Quiz: August 2017
 Every month we give you the chance to win £50 for your local food bank

The winner selected at random was Louise from Warrington and she nominated her local Foodbank to receive a £50 cheque from us, and she was also sent a box of chocolates for herself.

See the question and the answer below.

Question:
This month’s question was:

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.

 More Information on this page.