pension credit / attendance allowance / carers allowance

shopaholicz

Hi,

I'm hoping someone on here can help us. My partner, who is 74, has recently started Kidney dialysis overnight at home. I'm really struggling at the minute to both support him at night and then do a full day at work.


The staff nurse at the hospital says we should be able to claim attendance allowance or carers allowance and pension credit if I stopped working.

We know this would be a big drop in income for us but it's either that or get someone in to help, which my partner doesn't want.

My questions are:-

1. Do we really have to wait 6 months before we can claim attendance allowance?

2. How will pension credit people take to me giving up work voluntarily and then trying to claim this benefit? Would they also make us wait 6 months before applying?

3. what's the difference between attendance allowance and carers allowance, or is it the same thing?

pmlindyloo

To receive Carer's Allowance the person you are caring for must be in receipt of the relevant benefit - in your case - Attendance Allowance - so your husband must first apply for this. You do not have to wait for any length of time - google for how to claim.

Here is a link for Carer's Allowance

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

Pension Credit is a means tested benefit so your husband can apply for both of you to claim this.

PC will take account of any income/capital/savings you have. The Carer's Allowance will count as income but you will be given a Carer's Addition (extra money) to your Pension Credit.

All sounds a bit complicated, doesn't it?

Try putting your details into the benefit calculator as if your husband was already receiving AA and see your entitlements.

PC gives you automatic entitlement to full housing benefit and council tax reduction up to your personal circumstances.

You would not be sanctioned for leaving your job.

Come back if you have any further questions.

pmlindyloo

Benefit calculator here:

https://www.entitledto.co.uk

Icequeen99

pmlindyloo wrote: »

To receive Carer's Allowance the person you are caring for must be in receipt of the relevant benefit - in your case - Attendance Allowance - so your husband must first apply for this. You do not have to wait for any length of time - google for how to claim.

Here is a link for Carer's Allowance

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

Pension Credit is a means tested benefit so your husband can apply for both of you to claim this.

PC will take account of any income/capital/savings you have. The Carer's Allowance will count as income but you will be given a Carer's Addition (extra money) to your Pension Credit.

All sounds a bit complicated, doesn't it?

Try putting your details into the benefit calculator as if your husband was already receiving AA and see your entitlements.

PC gives you automatic entitlement to full housing benefit and council tax reduction up to your personal circumstances.

You would not be sanctioned for leaving your job.

Come back if you have any further questions.

I suspect they are referring to the amount of time you need to have the condition for before claiming. Unless you are terminally ill, you need to meet the disability test within AA for 6 months.

IQ

pmlindyloo

Icequeen99 wrote: »

I suspect they are referring to the amount of time you need to have the condition for before claiming. Unless you are terminally ill, you need to meet the disability test within AA for 6 months.

IQ

Yes, you're quite right.

I was assuming (maybe wrongly) that the OP's husband has had care needs for 6 months before he had to have dialysis.

The form is here so you can have a look at the kind of care needs they are talking about.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/406112/aa1a-interactive-jul-2014.pdf

anmarj

pmlindyloo wrote: »

PC gives you automatic entitlement to full housing benefit and council tax reduction up to your personal circumstances.

.

Only if they are entitled to guaranteed credit, if they get savings credit only they would not get full entitlement

benniebert

shopaholicz wrote: »

Hi,

I'm hoping someone on here can help us. My partner, who is 74, has recently started Kidney dialysis overnight at home. I'm really struggling at the minute to both support him at night and then do a full day at work.


The staff nurse at the hospital says we should be able to claim attendance allowance or carers allowance and pension credit if I stopped working.

We know this would be a big drop in income for us but it's either that or get someone in to help, which my partner doesn't want.

My questions are:-

1. Do we really have to wait 6 months before we can claim attendance allowance?

2. How will pension credit people take to me giving up work voluntarily and then trying to claim this benefit? Would they also make us wait 6 months before applying?

3. what's the difference between attendance allowance and carers allowance, or is it the same thing?

As the other poster has suggested, use the benefit checker website and see what could happen. I believe that if the right benefits are claimed you may find that overall you would have more money coming in by not working. From what I have seen, there are some unbelievable weekly income levels being paid out.


As an example: Attendance Allowance could be £82.30 a week. PLUS with Pension Credit it could take your minimum income up to £350 a week including the Attendance Allowance.

shopaholicz

Thanks for the replies so far.

My partner has had care need for a while but we've dealt with them as they've come up, for example, we used to have a shower over the bath and when he struggled to get into the bath we had a chimney breast taken down which made the bathroom bigger and had a separate shower put in. Then, when he started struggling to get up from the settee we bought a rise and recline chair. He also can't stand long enough to make a meal so we arrange my working hours around meal times. He also got a blue badge as he can't walk very far.

As we've dealt with each problem as it's come, I'm assuming they are no longer classed as a problem, so we can't say he's needed help for the last 6 months and will need to count the 6 months from when he started dialysis in January.

It is very confusing knowing which way to go from now. I'm trying to arrange shorter working hours from now till end of July, which will take us to 6 months. So this will mean we will still have money coming in and it will also help with me getting a bit of sleep/rest during the day.

Do you think this is the right way to go?

Mojisola

shopaholicz wrote: »

My partner has had care need for a while but we've dealt with them as they've come up, for example, we used to have a shower over the bath and when he struggled to get into the bath we had a chimney breast taken down which made the bathroom bigger and had a separate shower put in. Then, when he started struggling to get up from the settee we bought a rise and recline chair. He also can't stand long enough to make a meal so we arrange my working hours around meal times. He also got a blue badge as he can't walk very far.

As we've dealt with each problem as it's come, I'm assuming they are no longer classed as a problem, so we can't say he's needed help for the last 6 months and will need to count the 6 months from when he started dialysis in January.

I don't think that's right. He has the needs even though you have taken steps to help him stay independent.

My Mum was assessed by an Occupational Therapist and given a selection of aids which helped her stay independent but she still had those needs and her benefits weren't stopped because some of the effects were mitigated by the use of aids.

I would get help with completing the claim forms from an experienced advisor.

benniebert

Mojisola wrote: »

I don't think that's right. He has the needs even though you have taken steps to help him stay independent.

My Mum was assessed by an Occupational Therapist and given a selection of aids which helped her stay independent but she still had those needs and her benefits weren't stopped because some of the effects were mitigated by the use of aids.

I would get help with completing the claim forms from an experienced advisor.

I think that you will find that if someone has made adaptions to their home and purchased aids and that with these aids and adaptions there are now fewer if any needs existing, they would not be treated as still having those needs.
The needs have to exist which they wouldn't if they had the right adaptions and aids.


I know this has happened already with a relative. She put on the form that what needs she had have now been resolved because of the aids and adaptions she had purchased. The DWP ruled that she no longer had those needs in evidence. Mind you this was a few years ago just before she was 65 when she claimed DLA.

Indie_Kid

Even though he has aids, does he either need help using the aids or does he still need help? If aids don't completely remove the need for help, then he'll be classed as needing help.