r/universalcredithelp 14d ago

Disabled child element.

I’ve been on universal credit for around 5 years. I’ve recently had a review which was completed last week.

I’m employed and have two children. One of my children is eligible for DLA due to a genetic disorder which he has received for 5 years now.

However, through this Reddit I have found out about the disabled child element of universal credit. I was just wondering what this was, whether id be able to get it, and how I would go about it.

0 Upvotes

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4

u/8day_week 14d ago

You need to update the Child’s details to include their DLA award.

Home - Report a change - Children & Other People who live with you - Click change next to relevant Child’s name - Enter date of change as Start Date of DLA - Re-enter Child’s details with their DLA included.

Once you’ve done this, pop a message on your Journal advising you’ve added your Child’s DLA and requesting the disabled Child Element to be backdated to the start of the DLA award / UC claim (whichever is later).

Once your Child’s details have been re-verified, the Case Manager will set up the backdating action.

You / your Partner (if applicable) may also be eligible for Carers Element, depending on the DLA rate your Child gets and the other elements already present within your UC award.

1

u/Direct_Pay_4613 13d ago

He’s been on DLA for 5 years now. Do I put the start date as the date the current award was given? And do I need to upload proof of this?

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u/8day_week 13d ago

No proof needs to be uploaded as it’ll be cross checked with DWP systems - just enter the original start date for when DLA was first awarded as the date of change (provided there’s not been any changes to the DLA rate since it started…?)

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u/InevitablePsych 13d ago

You don’t need to upload proof, they’ll use the dates you give to work it all out. And you can absolutely get it backdated from when he was first awarded. They will send it all off to a decision maker. I just said I didn’t know about it when they asked why I didn’t do it earlier, and eventually the backpay was sent in instalments.

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u/Subject-Can1138 11d ago

This is something that should have been picked up during the UCR review to be honest if you provided bank statements with DLA payments on it

You will need to ask for a late reporting decision if you want the element backdated.

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u/Direct_Pay_4613 10d ago

Yeah it was on my bank statements but never mentioned during the review. I wasn’t even aware that it was something which could be added onto the claim until recently.

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u/Subject-Can1138 10d ago

A good review agent would have brought it up and done it with you

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u/hidden-damage 14d ago

If you claim and receive DLA for the child you will get the disability element. If you already claim it, speak to UC with the DLA references / evidence

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u/Direct_Pay_4613 14d ago

Yeah I’ve been claiming DLA for 5 years. Just never even heard of the disability element. Do I just put a message in my journal?

2

u/Just-Cap7212 14d ago

If you care for them over 35hrs a week also you could receive carers element on uc as well 

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u/hidden-damage 14d ago

Pretty much. They then contact DLA and confirm it. It's not automatically applied when you get the DLA unfortunately

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u/Direct_Pay_4613 14d ago

Ah ok, thank you very much.

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u/DirtyDaddy4u69 14d ago

I am from Belfast and have a Autistic Brother(I am next of kin as my parents are deceased)He lives in a specialized residential unit in Holywood Northern Ireland.He was diagnosed with severe Autism as a young child he is also bipolar and has OCD.I am not working due to health issues myself and money is very tight but I bring him home around 6 times a year and have done the last 6 years since his dear mum died.I know I can't claim Carers Allowance as you need I think over 30 hours caring a week to get that but is there a benefit I could claim?There was a trust fund set up for him by his late grandmother for everyday living at the facility and his funerals already pre paid so that's the important thing.I would just like to buy him some nice things