carers allowance v state pension

marchgirl

My husband is disabled & I currently receive Carers Allowance for looking after him ( my only income) as I am now eligible for the State Pension I have been advised that I will have to give up the Carers Allowance.

If I choose to remain in receipt of Carers Allowance and delay receiving the State Pension, I will not receive the benefits afforded to individuals who wait 1/2 years and increase the amount of Pension or receive a lump sum.

My concern is if I take my State Pension our Council tax benefit will increase & will my husbands benefits be affected if he does not have a designated carer ( despite the fact I will still be taking care of him) ?

Has anyone else been in this situation?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Marchgirl

[Deleted User]

the two are overlapping benefits,you may still get ctb on reduced income basis,and i dont see how your oh benefits will be affected by not having a "paid"carer(mine arent)

Newly_retired

You might be eligible for Pension Credit and then you would be better off anyway.

Mojisola

Ask for an advisor from, for example, AgeUK to talk you through the benefits.

Whiteknight

You will still be a carer for your husband just not getting paid for it if your State Pension is higher than the Carers Allowance. What you will have instead is an underlying entitlement. Which depending on the benefits you and your husband claim could mean you getting a Carers Premium.

marchgirl

Thank you Whiteknight.

I have not heard of Carers Premium,but will check it out.

Marchgirl

rotoguys

marchgirl wrote: »

Thank you Whiteknight.

I have not heard of Carers Premium,but will check it out.

Marchgirl

Yes you should do! We were in a similar position to you, and only very recently found out about Pension Credit and these underying entitlements to a Carers Premium. The Pension Service have told me that we should be getting almost another £400 a week on top of what we have been getting!!!

Unfortunately we have lost out for the past 6 years or so as we could have claimed it from then but knew nothing about it.
They will only backdate 3 months.

Oldernotwiser

rotoguys wrote: »

Yes you should do! We were in a similar position to you, and only very recently found out about Pension Credit and these underying entitlements to a Carers Premium. The Pension Service have told me that we should be getting almost another £400 a week on top of what we have been getting!!!

Unfortunately we have lost out for the past 6 years or so as we could have claimed it from then but knew nothing about it.
They will only backdate 3 months.

It's a bit early to be drinking, don't you think?

suelees1

No your husband's benefits will not be affected. Anyone who is in receipt of DLA or AA does not need to have a carer whether they're paid or not.

In any case as has been mentioned you will still have underlying entitlement to CA. Payment stops only because it's an overlapping benefit with your state pension.

The law says you will need 209.70 (couples personal allowance) + 31 (carers premium) = £240.70 pw to live on.

If your joint income (ignoring DLA or Attendance Allowance) is less than this (and you don't have a lot of savings) you will be entitled to guarantee pension credit.

Also if your income is this amount or less you will be entitled to full council tax benefit

marchgirl

Thank you Suelees,
Will find out about Pension guarantee.

Info has been very useful.

Marchgirl

rotoguys

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

It's a bit early to be drinking, don't you think?

Yes I suppose it is a bit early. Best to wait unril I get the cheque.
I just can't believe it, and they say that pensioners are trapped into poverty.

Had a handwritten from this morning from the Pension Service.
It says we are entitled to:

209.70
110.60 Disability Premiums
62.00 Carers Allowance Premium
69.81 Housing Costs
452.11 Entitlement per week

Plus
100.70 DLA
49.30 AA

Total £602.11 weekly entitlement
And they say I will not have any council tax to pay £29.11 per week!