People on means-tested benifits who also claim carers allowance have the full amount deducted from their benifit. In some cases you will not receive the carers allowance, you will only recive a top up on your benifit to the carers allowance rate and a class 1 national insurance contribution. 

Universal credit joint claimants are worst effectected by this.

A joint couple with 2 children born after 2017, where one or both over are 25  and recive no housing cost will recive 

 standard rate £525.72 

 

Carers allowance paid at weekly rate of £69.70

Worked out over 52 weeks into 12 assessment periods is a deduction of £302.03 every assessment period

New standard rate is  worked out £525.72 - £309.03

Carers element is paid at a small rate of £23 a week. 

£223.69  new standard UC entitlement for joint couple over 25 years old. 

 

This is even harder for claims where the carer is a partner and claiming for their disabled partner. 

Claiments on LCWRA will see the increase whilst LCW Claiments will have no effect.

 

Compare this to a joint claim where one or both over 25 and one working and earning £500 a month from earnings. On a non-health related claim and no housing cost. With 2 children 

The rate would be £525.72  with a work allowance of £575  reason being for dependant children. 

Total standard allowance is paid and FULL earnings are kept

So £1025.72 is kept entirely. 

This is concerning as the disabled claiment and caring family is exemt from the benifit cap and the non health related claim is not. 

The problem is carers allowance is not being considered as earnings. 

It is considered as an overlapping benifit. 

This is also concerning as the allowance is not means tested but it is processed that way.

It is highly unfair to aks disabled claiments who are joint with their partner for their partner to recive more then what's actually paid in their main benifit.

In another petition, Dwp suggest that Dwp is not in the business of paying 'voluntary caring responsibilities'

Carers mostly find themselves unexpectedly caring for their partner and it is not a choice made by any claiments, rather facing up to the fact their time is highly taken up by their responsibilitys and an inability to find work.