Breaks in care will not normally affect your Universal Credit, although this does depend on the reason for, and the length of, the breaks you take.

Hospital breaks

Hospital breaks are when you, or the person you are looking after, go into hospital and the person you care for still gets:

• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment

Other temporary breaks

Other temporary breaks are any breaks that aren't hospital breaks. For example when you are on holiday, or the person you are caring for is in respite care.

How breaks affect Universal Credit

You will no longer get the Carer Element if, in the last 6 months, either of the following applies:

• hospital breaks and other temporary breaks add up to more than 12 weeks
• other temporary breaks add up to more than 4 weeks