Unpaid carers may get cash boost worth £169 a month outside of benefit

On its website, Carers UK shared how applying for the Universal Credit element often works and warned how the person being looked after by the carer could be affected.

The charity stated: “You must tell the Universal Credit office that you are a carer using your online journal or calling if you are a telephone claimant.

“This is because they will not automatically know this and apply the element, even if you are getting Carer’s Allowance.

“You can inform them of your caring role even if you are yet to claim, or not going to claim Carer’s Allowance.

“One important thing to note is that if the person you are looking after receives a severe disability premium (or addition) within their means-tested legacy benefits, they will lose this if your Universal Credit includes a carer element (regardless of whether or not you are also claiming Carer’s Allowance).”

Claiming the Carer’s Element of Universal Credit could affect the benefits the carer is looking after.