Can a husband & wife claim Attendance Allowance?

xylophone

http://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/help-with-money/benefits-a-tax-credits/carer-benefits-for-pensioners
may be of interest.

princessdon

Why shouldn't AA, DLA and CA be means tested? They are benefits and most other benefits have gone that way, so why not these ones?

grummps

margaretclare wrote: »

GPS need not necessarily come into the equation at all.

It would if the 'Appropriate Amount after including the underlying carers allowance premiums and additional disabilty premium is greater than the net amount of income received excluding AA!

grummps

princessdon wrote: »

Why shouldn't AA, DLA and CA be means tested? They are benefits and most other benefits have gone that way, so why not these ones?

I agree with you entirely. Why should these benefits be paid to those that are clearly not in need of the money!

I would go further and restrict bus passes to only those that are on Guaranteed Pension Credit and don't have access to a car, as well as only hand out the Winter Fuel Allowance to those that actually need it - depending on the type of heating system they have and whether there are any disabilities involved - linked again to only those on very low income.

I hear so many stories of pensioners that use the Fuel Allowance for many things other than what it is for - presents for Christmas, holidays etc.

princessdon

grummps wrote: »

I agree with you entirely. Why should these benefits be paid to those that are clearly not in need of the money!

I would go further and restrict bus passes to only those that are on Guaranteed Pension Credit and don't have access to a car, as well as only hand out the Winter Fuel Allowance to those that actually need it - depending on the type of heating system they have and whether there are any disabilities involved - linked again to only those on very low income.

I hear so many stories of pensioners that use the Fuel Allowance for many things other than what it is for - presents for Christmas, holidays etc.

Well I sure as heck know it ain't gonna be available when I am older. But many will just tuck their pensions/inheritence away in trusts and still be eligible if they really wanted to.

cbrown372

princessdon wrote: »

Well I sure as heck know it ain't gonna be available when I am older. But many will just tuck their pensions/inheritence away in trusts and still be eligible if they really wanted to.

people don't really tie up an inheritance into trusts do they :think:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4064891=

seven-day-weekend

grummps wrote: »

I agree with you entirely. Why should these benefits be paid to those that are clearly not in need of the money!

I would go further and restrict bus passes to only those that are on Guaranteed Pension Credit and don't have access to a car, as well as only hand out the Winter Fuel Allowance to those that actually need it - depending on the type of heating system they have and whether there are any disabilities involved - linked again to only those on very low income.

I hear so many stories of pensioners that use the Fuel Allowance for many things other than what it is for - presents for Christmas, holidays etc.

So yet again those who have made no provision for their retirement get (literally), a free ride.

I understand that some may have been in no position to make provision, but why should those of us who have be penalised yet again?

I am not entitled to Pension Credit because I have a State Pension and a part-time job, plus my husband has his Teachers' Pension (to which he contributed a lot of money). I do have a car and do drive - yet I still use my bus pass a heck of a lot, especially for journeys into the city centre, where it is a pain to park and costs nearly £4 return on the bus. It is cheaper and greener.

By your reckoning I should have to pay £4, five times a week whilst someone who never paid a penny in gets it all free?

There will be mutiny!

princessdon

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

So yet again those who have made no provision for their retirement get (literally), a free ride.


There will be mutiny!

Prepare for mutiny - clearly on it's way IMO - directly after the next election when they have 4/5 years for people to get used to it.

they said they would never means test ESA/IB - They are now doing so in part (about to get stricter), or Child Benefit (again in part).

People who work, support themselves and save are about to be hit more and more

Or maybe the OAP's as the largest %age of voters will remain - but can't see it personally.

I'd wager my mortgage that when I retire I won't even get a state pension (I'll get the entitlement as worked for the NI, but due to income the value will be zero).

Samsaragirl

Spamfree wrote: »

I'd like to know what happened to the in sickness and in health bit of marriage vows?

Does nobody help out their nearest and dearest these days unless there is some cash in it for them?

What a ridiculous statement- yes of course. Both my parents get AA, Mum lower Dad higher, and me, an only child full time carer.

My mother will never leave my father even for a short break with me (coach trip ) She will just not leave him in respite and 'go away' anywhere, which leaves me, when she gets 'respite care, going to her and the care home to check on my Dad. No respite for me eh! But I do do it out of love as I would be much better off using my life skills.and past work experience.

What really niggles me is that AA is not means tested, as my mother is controlling the joint bank accounts and getting me to run here there and everywhere transferring 30k here, 20k there. The joint currebnt account has over 10k in it, and yet she knows somw day cannot afford milk, cannot afford to put diesel in my car, so have to walk twice a day to get dad up, back t bed. Been there 10 hrs today!

For the last 6 years she has been refusing help- that equates to over 30k that she refuses to use for what the AA is meant for. My dad has dementia, he would go mad!

princessdon

Is your dad at home or a care home?

sorry (not having a go, I look after my GM) who has early dimentia and is in a home, but was told she couldn't claim AA as was in a home??