Hi hoping for some advice my husband and I are currently claiming income support as our daughter has cerebral palsy and currently claims esa support group and pip. We share the care responsibilities but only one of us could claim carers allowance. We have been sent migration notices for universal credit and was wondering what this will mean for me and my caring responsibilities as my husband won’t be made to work as he claims the CA. I’m so worried that they are going to make me work 35 hours which I can’t do as our daughter needs a lot of support. Any advice please would be appreciated.
Hi @hicky1, welcome to the forum. I also have had a letter as well. I don’t think they will make him work, it just the dwp trying to get everyone on the same thing to save on jobs and paperwork. I would suggest change to UC and see what happens, if the dwp try to be silly, get your husband to explain the situation to them and if in doubt, contact the carers helpline, citizens advice and your mp. Good luck.
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Hi I have been looking after my mother for years who has severe dementia,I’m a worrier and the very blunt migration letter has me feeling very depressed and anxious.My mother has very quick care calls that she pays for that are for a bed bath and pad changes but I have to feed mum and give her drinks through the day as she can’t use her hands.I run her life for her and spend every day with her.,I have even slept in the same room downstairs as her and her hospital bed for 7 years!.I’m worried that they may say I’m not needed as she has carers.
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Hi @wilmo77, I have had the same letter to change over and in the process of doing it. You are still a carer even with paid carers coming as when they are gone who helps your mum?
Don’t worry to much about it as it already bitten them in the rear with the website part not working correctly.
@hicky1 and @wilmo77
Contact the helpline, get a benefits check. it’s the best way to manage your worries. I hear you
Especially with all the election soundbites about pushing people to work…UC has exceptions for Carers …BEFORE filling out any forms, the Carers UK helpline may be able to recommend the BEST way to complete it or who to contact…
People are being migrated to UC. I would suggest speaking to someone as the Benefits calculators can be hit and miss.
I look after my Autistic Son. He gets Pip at the standard rate and low rate mobility because he can walk. I have to go with him as he is unsafe on the road.
I also get Pip. Just standard, no mobility because I can walk 50 yards.
Moving onto UC they say you will be no worse of in my circumstances.
Not strictly true. Council tax does not take into account My son as the tax is now only based on me and my income. They count carers allowance and Pip as income and so I now pay council tax, albeit at a discount. This year I have paid over £300, and that’s for a part of the year as I’ve just migrated.
If I had Migrated at the beginning of the tax year my bill would have been around £640.
So that’s how much worse off I’ll be next year if everything was to stay the same. But that’s not a guarantee as the council tax reduction as a % could change.
The other thing to remember is anyone who is Migrated to UC will get the transition guarantee. But as UC rates increase anyone who migrated will not receive the increases until their Transitional amount has fallen to reflect the new UC rates for new claims. Unfortunately the benefits calculators that you are instructed to use do not reflect most people’s actual circumstances, you need to call and stubbornly insist on talking to someone.