Carers Allowance v State Pension

Terrysdelight

Hello

I was under the impression that if your income was less than £100 per week and you are caring for someone in receipt of Attendance Allowance or PIP, for more than 35 hours per week you can claim Carers Allowance (about £63 per week).

My mother-in-law is a carer but she receives a state pension of £64 per week (this is her only income). I was thinking she would be entitled but after reading on the government website - this isn't guaranteed.

The website says, 'if we can't pay you carers allowance, we may be able to pay you pension credit'.

Can anyone clarify this to me, is mother-in-law eligible for extra money (either Carers Allowance or Pension Credit?)

Indie_Kid

She'd have an underlying entitlement to carers allowance. If she claims pension credit, she'll get a carers premium.

Terrysdelight

Indie_Kid wrote: »

She'd have an underlying entitlement to carers allowance. If she claims pension credit, she'll get a carers premium.

Hi, sorry, I don't know what that means. Can you explain?

elmer

Carers Allowance and State Pension are overlapping benefits, i.e. you can claim one or the other but not both. As your MIL receives more Pension than Carer Allowance, she is best to claim her Pension.

If her household income in total is below the Pension Credit eligibility, she would then be able to claim pension credit.

And as Indie Kid says, as she is already entitled to Carers Allowance ( an underlying entitlement) this will give her more premiums when they work out what she is entitled to, which may result in a higher award of Pension Credit.

You can ask CAB to check her benefits entitlement, or give Pension Credit a ring, they are very helpful.

Terrysdelight

elmer wrote: »

Carers Allowance and State Pension are overlapping benefits, i.e. you can claim one or the other but not both. As your MIL receives more Pension than Carer Allowance, she is best to claim her Pension.

If her household income in total is below the Pension Credit eligibility, she would then be able to claim pension credit.

And as Indie Kid says, as she is already entitled to Carers Allowance ( an underlying entitlement) this will give her more premiums when they work out what she is entitled to, which may result in a higher award of Pension Credit.

You can ask CAB to check her benefits entitlement, or give Pension Credit a ring, they are very helpful.

Many thanks

pmlindyloo

I do believe that a claim should be put in for Carer's Allowance. Your MIL will then receive a letter saying that she cannot be paid CA because of her pension BUT it should also say that she may be entitled to Carer's premium if she receives any means tested benefits.

I think the claim has to be put in to prove that you are entitled to the premiums.

A link for you:

http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyandlegal/carersbenefits/Pages/carer-premium.aspx

jlawrence

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I do believe that a claim should be put in for Carer's Allowance. Your MIL will then receive a letter saying that she cannot be paid CA because of her pension BUT it should also say that she may be entitled to Carer's premium if she receives any means tested benefits.

I think the claim has to be put in to prove that you are entitled to the premiums.

A link for you:

http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyandlegal/carersbenefits/Pages/carer-premium.aspx

Hi Lindy, just to clarify, how do you get this Carers Allowance? We have carers that help us on a daily basis, can we get help to pay them?

nannytone_2

you can telephone 0345 608 4321, or claim online.
you could also phone social services and ask for an adult assessment. there may be funding available to help with the cost of care, depending on income.

jlawrence

nannytone wrote: »

you can telephone 0345 608 4321, or claim online.
you could also phone social services and ask for an adult assessment. there may be funding available to help with the cost of care, depending on income.

Thanks Nanny, I will telephone on Monday to see if we can get that allowance. Social Services don't they means test you like the ESA does?

p00hsticks

jlawrence wrote: »

Hi Lindy, just to clarify, how do you get this Carers Allowance? We have carers that help us on a daily basis, can we get help to pay them?

jlawrence wrote: »

Thanks Nanny, I will telephone on Monday to see if we can get that allowance. Social Services don't they means test you like the ESA does?

Carers Allowance is claimed by the people doing the caring, not by those being cared for.... If your carers are eligible for Carers allowance then it may affect any other benefits they are claiming alongside it.

pmlindyloo

jlawrence wrote: »

Hi Lindy, just to clarify, how do you get this Carers Allowance? We have carers that help us on a daily basis, can we get help to pay them?

As already said Carer's Allowance is paid to the person that is doing the caring.

The person also has to meet certain criteria.

See here:

http://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/help-with-benefits/carers-allowance

It sounds as if you have carers that are already employed (perhaps by an agency?) that you are paying privately for their caring for you.

Since a carer has to be giving you care for 35 hours a week then it is very unlikely that they would qualify for carer's allowance.

You may be eligible for some help with the cost of carers but you would need an assessment from Adult Social Services.