Universal Credit: Carers
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has carried out an assessment of the potential impact of rules preventing Universal Credit claimants from receiving the (a) Carer and (b) Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity element on disabled unpaid carers.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
The Universal Credit impact assessment published in December 2012 assessed the impacts of introducing Universal Credit. It did not specifically reference carers, but it set out how households’ awards would be affected by the overall combination of changes.
A detailed explanation of the policy was set out in UC Policy Briefing Note 1, published in 2011, and explained that additions would be paid in respect of not being able to work through either a medical condition or by virtue of caring responsibilities. Couples can get LCWRA element for one member and the carer element for the other partner.
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