Mixed age couples struggling to work out what we can receive

happyman70

My head is exploding trying to work out what we can and cannot receive. My wife is due to finish work in two weeks as she is at pension age and cannot stay on due to ill health. I had a serious accident last year and was told i will never be able to work again. I will be at retirement age in six years. I was put on full PIP and also LCWR. This has also been topped up by Universal credit. However, i have been told that once my wife finishes in two weeks that the only thing i am entitled to will be my full PIP. I phoned a helpline up and they said that once my wife retires all other benefits are removed and we are supposed to live on my wifes pension and my PIP. This is scaring me. Can anyone let me know if this is correct.

calcotti

You are not on LCWRA topped up with UC. LCWRA is part of UC. Do you mean you are receiving ESA and UC or are you just claiming UC? if you are not receiving new style ESA it would be sensible to claim it because it is not means tested. You will need a full NI record for 2019-20 and 2020-21 to be eligible.

It is completely incorrect to say that your benefits will end when your wife reaches pension age. Who told you that?

When your wife retires her pension will be deducted in full from your joint UC entitlement. Whether or not any UC remains payable depends on the numbers involved.

Unfortunately you are likely to see a drop in your overall income because of the pension being deducted in full whereas for her current earnings there is only a partial deduction.

Are you claiming Council Tax Reduction?

NedS

Universal Credit is a means tested benefit. Your Wife's pension will be deducted pound for pound from your entitlement to UC, so if your wife's pension is more that the UC you currently receive, UC will end for you. If the pension is less, then you will still receive some UC to top up your income.

Alice_Holt

You may be able to add the carers addition to the joint UC claim if you wife cares for you 35 hrs a week, and your PIP award includes Daily Living. 

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit/Additional-Elements-of-Universal-Credit

Rubyroobs

You would continue to get all the elements you currently receive on UC which presumably includes a carers element for your wife, but her state pension will reduce your total UC. So how much Uc you continue to receive will depend on how much your wifes state pension will be. As states above if you are eligible to claim New style ESA if you are not already doing so, then it may work out better for you just to claim this.

calcotti

Alice_Holt said:

You may be able to add the carers addition to the joint UC claim if you wife cares for you 35 hrs a week, and your PIP award includes Daily Living. 

Hopefully already claimed if applicable.