Additional Elements of Universal Credit - Carer's Element

This element is £201.68 per month.

You can get this element added to your Universal Credit if you are providing care for at least 35 hours per week for someone who gets:

• Attendance Allowance, or
• Pension Age Disability Payment (Scotland), or
• The highest or middle rate care component of Disability Living Allowance, Scottish Adult DLA, or Child Disability Payment, or
• Daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, or
• Armed Forces Independence Payment, or
• Constant Attendance Allowance of £90.20 per week paid with Industrial Injuries Benefit or War Disablement Pension.

You don't have to claim Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment to get this element.

Unlike Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment (Scotland) where you are prevented from claiming if you are earning above a certain level (£196 per week for 2025/26), for the Carer's Element your level of earnings does not prevent you from claiming. However, as the Carer's Element is a part of Universal Credit, which is means tested , your earnings and other income will affect how much Universal Credit overall you are entitled to.

If you get a Carer's Element, you can't get it at the same time as the health element (LCWRA). You will only get one extra payment, not both.

Getting the Carer’s Element might affect the benefits of the person you care for. It might mean they lose their entitlement to the Severe Disability Premium.

Joint claims

If you are making a joint claim, you can get a Carer's Element each if you both qualify for it. If you are caring for the same person, you will only get one extra monthly amount.