Pension Credit and/or Attendance Allowance

Willow_2

Hi My mother turned 90 on the 16th June, 

We are trying to find ways of keeping her independent in her own home by trying to ensure she has enough finances to do so 
We think she might be entitled to Pension Credit ?

She receives 
Basic State Pension £141.85 
Pre 97 additional St Pens +£45.25 
Less (COD)  -£7.68   
Graduated Retirement Benefit +£5.46
Age Addition + £0.25
Total  £185.13  weekly

She also gets DLA 
Care component : lower £24.45
Mobility component : higher £64.50
Total £88.95 weekly 

We also think by looking at the forms that she might be able to apply for Attendance allowance ?

I've personally not looked into benefits before and I am wondering if we can apply for both, and if we do would there be a specific order to apply for these, if one affects the other?

If anyone is able to give me advice I'd be very grateful 

Sandra 

Rubyroobs

She cannot claim Attendance Allowance whilst claiming DLA. If her care needs have increased I would ask for them to look again at the care component of her DLA. If she was to receive middle rate care component or higher then she would likely qualify for some pension credit ( assuming no other private pensions or significant savings) as she would get a severe disability premium on the pension credit assuming no-one would claim carers allowance for looking after her and she lives alone. So I would advise ringing DLA if he care needs have increased and ask for a review, then if/ when middle rate awarded then apply for pension credit. the advantage of staying on DLA rather than claiming AA is that there is no mobility component on AA wheras if she has it on DLA, she will continue to receive it. 

Rubyroobs

I should have also explained that without a severe disability premium included in a pension credit calculation, there is no entitlement to Pension credit as her state pension is slightly above the threshold.

calcotti

Note that any capital over £10,000 will also affect Pension Credit entitlement even if mid rate care for DLA is achieved.

Is she claiming Council Tax Reduction and, if she rents, Housing Benefit?

Willow_2

She has the 25% council tax reduction and doesn't receive any housing benefit 

calcotti

Willow_2 said:

She has the 25% council tax reduction and doesn't receive any housing benefit 

The 25% council tax discount for living lone is a separate issue.

Council Tax Reduction is a benefit which is claimed from the local authority to help people pay their Council Tax. Similarly Housing Benefit can be claimed from the local authority to help them pay their rent.

If applicable I would expect her to be able to claim both unless she has more than £16,000 of capital in which case she is excluded (unless she is later awarded Pension Credit in which case capital will be ignored for CTR and HB).

bigbill

Going by the answers above it looks like the DWP must have done away with the savings credit part of Pension Credit as I thought she could still get this?

calcotti

bigbill said:

Going by the answers above it looks like the DWP must have done away with the savings credit part of Pension Credit as I thought she could still get this?

Good point. Given her age she will be eligible for Savings Pension Credit. If no savings I think the SPC will be £13.47/week.

Willow_2

Thank you 
I’ll pass this information over and see if we can get SPC