Will my Mother-in -Law be better of with Pension Credit

lgb2100

My mother-in-law is in a Private Residential care home, and her income is assessed annually, in order to see what help she requires with her payment to the carehome.

As the care home billing is greater than her income, she gets help from the local authortities with her payment - basically, ending up with a few pounds 'pocket money' each week.

(Her previous care home - council run - was more expensive, and due to council cut backs, had to move into a cheaper Private residential care home - however, her payments and 'pocket money' remains the same)

However, she doesn't claim Pension Credit, but gets her £125 winter fuel allowance.

Would she be better off with Pension Credit, thus losing her Winter Fuel Allowance ?

I assume her payments to the Care home would increase, the autorities contributions decreased, and her 'pocket money' remaining the same.

The old dear has lost her dentures and requires replacement dentures - could she recover the cost of these, once she has applied for Pension credit ?

On the NHS I am guessing dentures will cost her £198, but she hasn't been to a dentist for many years, so assume it will be more expensive.

The care home says, that if she was claiming Pension credit, these dentures and other stuff would be free !

With her not claiming Pension Credit, I assume that if she was to have new dentures , even if she applied for Pension credit, she would still have to pay the fee for the dentures.

Indie_Kid

lgb2100 wrote: »

Would she be better off with Pension Credit, thus losing her Winter Fuel Allowance ?

Claiming pension credit doesn't affect the winter fuel payment.

pmlindyloo

Sorry, but it does if you are in a residential care home.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/Benefits/BenefitsInRetirement/DG_10018657

lgb2100

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Sorry, but it does if you are in a residential care home.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/Benefits/BenefitsInRetirement/DG_10018657

Thus one of the reasons, she isn't claiming Pension Credit - as she lives in a care home, and claiming Pension Credit as I see it would only increase her contribution/reduce local authorities contribution to her stay at the care home.

Now she requires Dentures, and it appears that she will have to pay for them - I assume on NHS, that'll be £198.

Is there a way to recover this, or some of this cost ?

pmlindyloo

My mother is in a care home and claims Pension Credit. As I understand it any income that is received goes towards the cost of the care home and the local authority make up the difference. Then the person is left with a personal allowance.

If you are on Pension Credit you do receive help with some medical costs.

Have a look here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018692

It is difficult to be more precise as I do not know all your MIL 's financial circumstances.

pmlindyloo

This might be useful to:

http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/Healthcosts/pages/Dentalcosts.aspx

lgb2100

pmlindyloo wrote: »

My mother is in a care home and claims Pension Credit. As I understand it any income that is received goes towards the cost of the care home and the local authority make up the difference. Then the person is left with a personal allowance..

Same here, except my MIL doesn't receive Pension Benefit.

I am guessing that her personal allowance will be the same whether she claims Pension Credit or doesn't.

Not sure if she can have dental treatment whilst waiting for a Pension Credit application is being processed, and then claim the cost back or not !

anmarj

lgb2100 wrote: »

Same here, except my MIL doesn't receive Pension Benefit.

I am guessing that her personal allowance will be the same whether she claims Pension Credit or doesn't.

Not sure if she can have dental treatment whilst waiting for a Pension Credit application is being processed, and then claim the cost back or not !

you can keep the recepit and claim back later as long as she is awarded the Guaranteed element, if she was awarded savings credit only then she is not entitled to the full help and would have to consider completing a HC1 to see if she could get help from the health authority that way. She could try claiming this way even if she does claim Pension Credit

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/HealthAndSupport/ArrangingHealthAndSocialCare/DG_4000514

lgb2100

Looks like there's a form HC1(SC) that appears to be what we require.

Just telephoned for the form, explaine dthe situation (i.e requires dental treatment, but doesn't calim pension cedit, etc) - it appears that because the MIL in in a residential care home, and some of the payments is met by the local authorities, she is entitled to some help towards the payment.