Universal Credit Carers Element: How Much It Is and Who Qualifies
The Carers Element of Universal Credit is an extra monthly amount added to your Universal Credit if you care for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week.
It is not a separate payment. It is added to your Universal Credit award and appears in your monthly statement.
What is the Universal Credit Carers Element?
The Carers Element is an additional amount within Universal Credit for people who provide regular care to someone with a qualifying disability benefit.
If you meet the rules, the Carers Element increases your maximum Universal Credit before earnings reductions are applied.
You do not need to receive Carer’s Allowance to qualify for the Carers Element. They are separate benefits, although many people receive both.
The key rule is that you must provide at least 35 hours of care each week to someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit.
How much is the Carers Element on Universal Credit?
For the 2026 to 2027 rates, the Carers Element is:
- £198.31 per month
This amount is added to your Universal Credit each month if you qualify. It is not paid separately and does not replace your standard allowance.
The Carers Element increases your total Universal Credit before earnings are taken into account. If you have no earnings, the full amount may be added to your award.
Simple example
Standard allowance (single, 25 or over): £424.90
Carers Element: £198.31
Total before earnings or deductions: £623.21
If you have no earnings and no other deductions, this may be your monthly Universal Credit payment.
Who qualifies for the Carers Element?
You may qualify if:
- You provide care for at least 35 hours per week.
- The person you care for receives a qualifying disability benefit.
- You report your caring responsibilities in your Universal Credit claim.
The 35 hours can include help with washing, dressing, preparing meals, supervision for safety, managing medication, or emotional support related to a disability.
You do not need to live with the person you care for.
Which disability benefits qualify?
The person you care for must usually receive one of the following:
- Personal Independence Payment (Daily Living component)
- Disability Living Allowance (middle or highest care rate)
- Attendance Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Certain constant attendance allowances
If the person’s qualifying disability benefit stops, your Carers Element may also stop.
Is there an earnings limit for the Carers Element?
There is no fixed earnings limit for the Universal Credit Carers Element.
This is different from Carer’s Allowance, which has an earnings limit.
However, your earnings can reduce your total Universal Credit through the 55% taper rate. This means you can still qualify as a carer while working, but your overall payment may be lower depending on your income.
How to claim the Carers Element on Universal Credit
You do not apply for the Carers Element through a separate form. You add your caring responsibilities within your Universal Credit account.
To claim the Carers Element:
- Sign in to your Universal Credit account.
- Go to “Report a change of circumstances”.
- Select the option to report that you care for someone.
- Provide the name of the person you care for.
- Confirm the disability benefit they receive.
- Confirm that you provide at least 35 hours of care each week.
Once reported, your Universal Credit claim is assessed to confirm you meet the rules.
When does the Carers Element start?
The Carers Element usually starts from the beginning of the assessment period in which you reported your caring responsibilities, provided you were eligible during that period.
Universal Credit works in fixed monthly assessment periods. The exact start date depends on when you report the change and whether you met the 35-hour rule during that period.
If you report caring part way through an assessment period but were already providing 35 hours of care before reporting, it may still be included for that full assessment period.
How long does it take for the Carers Element to be added?
In most cases, the Carers Element is added to your next Universal Credit statement after you report your caring responsibilities.
If additional checks are needed, it may take longer. For example:
- If the qualifying disability benefit needs to be confirmed.
- If there is a question about the 35-hour requirement.
- If there are overlapping claims involving the same cared-for person.
If you do not see the Carers Element on your next statement, check your journal for messages requesting further information.
Do you need evidence to claim the Carers Element?
You are not usually asked to submit timesheets or proof of 35 hours of care.
However, Universal Credit may check:
- That the person you care for receives a qualifying disability benefit.
- That no one else is already receiving the Carers Element for caring for the same person in a conflicting way.
If the disability benefit stops or changes, your Carers Element may stop automatically.
What if you already receive Carer’s Allowance?
If you receive Carer’s Allowance, you should still report your caring responsibilities in your Universal Credit account.
The Carers Element is separate from Carer’s Allowance. Universal Credit does not automatically add it unless your caring role is declared within your claim.
Even if you already receive Carer’s Allowance, you may not receive the Carers Element unless it has been added to your Universal Credit award.
Common mistakes when claiming the Carers Element
- Assuming it is added automatically when Carer’s Allowance is awarded.
- Not reporting caring responsibilities because you are already on Universal Credit.
- Reporting fewer than 35 hours of care.
- Forgetting to report when the disability benefit changes.
If you think you qualify but do not see the Carers Element in your statement, write a short message in your journal confirming that you provide 35 hours of care and asking for clarification.
Carers Element and Carer’s Allowance: what is the difference?
The Carers Element is part of Universal Credit. Carer’s Allowance is a separate benefit.
You can receive both, but Carer’s Allowance is treated as income and is deducted from your Universal Credit. The Carers Element is then added to your Universal Credit award.
This means your total income may increase overall, but Universal Credit is adjusted to account for the Carer’s Allowance payment.
Simple comparison
- Carers Element: Extra amount added within Universal Credit.
- Carer’s Allowance: Separate weekly benefit paid outside Universal Credit.
- Earnings limit: Applies to Carer’s Allowance, not to the Carers Element.
If you receive Carer’s Allowance, you should still report your caring responsibilities in your Universal Credit claim so the Carers Element can be added.
Can you get Carers Element and Carer’s Allowance at the same time?
Yes, you can receive both.
However, Carer’s Allowance counts as income and is deducted pound for pound from your Universal Credit. The Carers Element is added separately.
This often results in a small net increase overall because the Carers Element is usually higher than the amount deducted through Universal Credit adjustments, but the exact impact depends on your circumstances.
Can you get LCWRA and the Carers Element together?
No, you cannot receive both the LCWRA element and the Carers Element in the same Universal Credit claim for the same person.
If you qualify for LCWRA (Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity), the LCWRA element will normally be paid instead of the Carers Element.
You cannot receive both elements at the same time because they are considered overlapping additions within Universal Credit.
If you qualify for both, Universal Credit will usually include the higher of the two elements in your award.
What if one partner has LCWRA and the other is a carer?
If you are in a couple, one partner may receive the LCWRA element while the other receives the Carers Element.
This is allowed because the elements apply to different people within the same claim.
For example:
- Partner A has LCWRA and receives the LCWRA element.
- Partner B provides 35 hours of care to someone else and qualifies for the Carers Element.
In this situation, both elements may be included in the same Universal Credit award.
Can two people receive the Carers Element for the same person?
In most cases, only one person can receive the Carers Element for caring for the same disabled person within the same Universal Credit claim.
If two separate carers provide care in different households, complex rules may apply. Universal Credit will check for overlapping claims.
If there is a dispute about who provides care, Universal Credit may ask for clarification.
Does the Carers Element affect work requirements?
Yes. If you qualify for the Carers Element, your work-related requirements under Universal Credit are usually reduced.
You are normally placed in a “no work-related requirements” group while you are recognised as a carer providing 35 hours of care each week.
If your caring responsibilities stop, your work requirements may change.
What happens if the person you care for stops receiving disability benefits?
If the qualifying disability benefit stops, your Carers Element may stop as well.
You must report changes promptly in your Universal Credit account to avoid overpayments.
If the disability benefit is later reinstated, you may need to update your claim again.
Can the Carers Element be backdated?
The Carers Element can sometimes be backdated, but it is not automatic.
If you were providing at least 35 hours of care and met all the eligibility rules before you reported it, you can ask Universal Credit to consider adding it from an earlier assessment period.
Backdating usually depends on:
- When you started providing 35 hours of care.
- When the person you care for started receiving a qualifying disability benefit.
- Whether you met all the conditions during that time.
You should request backdating through your journal and clearly state the date your caring responsibilities began.
How long does it take for the Carers Element to be backdated?
If backdating is agreed, the additional amount is usually added to your next Universal Credit payment as a lump sum.
The time it takes depends on whether Universal Credit needs to verify:
- The disability benefit award date.
- The period you were providing care.
- Any overlapping elements or claims.
If the decision takes longer than expected, check your journal for requests for further information.
When does the Carers Element stop?
The Carers Element may stop if:
- You stop providing at least 35 hours of care.
- The person you care for stops receiving a qualifying disability benefit.
- You do not report a change in circumstances.
If your caring role changes, you must report it promptly in your Universal Credit account.
Overpayments of the Carers Element
If you continue receiving the Carers Element after you are no longer eligible, the extra amount may be treated as an overpayment.
This can happen if:
- The disability benefit ends and is not reported.
- You stop providing 35 hours of care.
- There is incorrect information on the claim.
Overpayments usually have to be repaid.
How Carers Element overpayments are recovered
If you are still receiving Universal Credit, overpayments are normally recovered through deductions from future payments.
If you are no longer receiving Universal Credit, you may receive a letter asking for repayment.
If you believe the overpayment is incorrect, you can challenge the decision.
How to challenge a Carers Element decision
If you disagree with a decision about the Carers Element, you can request a mandatory reconsideration.
This means asking the Department for Work and Pensions to review the decision.
You should:
- Explain clearly which decision you are challenging.
- State the dates you provided care.
- Confirm the qualifying disability benefit involved.
If the decision is not changed after mandatory reconsideration, you may be able to appeal to an independent tribunal.
Carers Element FAQs
How much is the Carers Element?
The Carers Element is £198.31 per month for 2026 to 2027. It is added to your Universal Credit award and is not paid separately.
How do I apply for the Carers Element?
You report your caring responsibilities in your Universal Credit account under “Report a change of circumstances”. There is no separate application form.
Can I get Carers Element and LCWRA together?
You cannot receive both the LCWRA element and the Carers Element for the same person within one Universal Credit claim. Universal Credit will normally include the higher element.
Can I get Carer’s Allowance and the Carers Element?
Yes. You can receive both, but Carer’s Allowance is treated as income and deducted from your Universal Credit. The Carers Element is added separately.
Is there an earnings limit for the Carers Element?
No. There is no fixed earnings limit for the Carers Element, but your earnings can reduce your overall Universal Credit through the taper rate.
How long does it take for the Carers Element to be added?
It is usually added from the start of the assessment period in which you reported your caring responsibilities, provided you met the eligibility conditions.