Methods that are performed by a user equipment (UE) and corresponding methods of base stations that allow a UE to determine whether the UE is in a carrier aggregation enabled or disabled state. One exemplary embodiment of a method performed by a UE determines a first artificial value for a first parameter and a second artificial value for a power headroom (PHR) for a secondary component carrier (SCC), the first and second artificial values being substantially low relative to a configuration of the network, generates an artificial report including the first and second artificial values, transmits the artificial report to a primary cell providing a primary component carrier (PCC) and receives an indication that the UE is placed in a carrier aggregation disabled state.