May 2016 – Carers & the Benefit Cap

A claimants household will be exempt from the effect of the cap regardless of whether the cared-for person is part of that household or not.

Carers in receipt of carers allowance or the carer element of universal credit should be treated as a priority group to receive discretionary housing payments ahead of benefit cap exemptions due in the autumn.

The Government rejected a call for new rules that will exempt carers from the benefit cap to be brought forward ahead of their planned introduction in the autumn stating instead that the Discretionary Housing Payments Local Authority Good Practice Guide has been amended to reflect that those entitled to Carers Allowance or Universal Credit including the carer element should be considered as a priority group for whom Discretionary Housing Payments are specifically aimed.

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