Couple both claiming state pension

davdee

My wife is about to claim state pension, £185 aweek I recieve £170 a week, will this cancel out my pension credit?  I ALSO GET FULL PIP

Keep_pedalling

As your joint income will exceed £278.70 you will no longer qualify for it unless you can claim the additional amount for severe disability. 

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/pension-credit-additional-amount-severe-disability

JoeCrystal

The pension credit will only top up to £278.70 per week. PIP does not matter in terms of income for the pension credit, So yes. considering the household is getting at least £355 per week income, you will likely lose your pension credit. Btw, surely they took your wife's income already when you applied for the pension credit initially unless she is not earning any income at all? 

whizzywoo

Does your wife also claim any disability benefits?
Does she provide care for you of 35 hours per week or more?
Do you provide care for her is she is receiving a disability benefit?

If the answer is yes to any of the above questions then it is possible to increase your entitlement to Pension Credit above the standard amount for a couple.

where_are_we

If your financial situation allows it it might be beneficial for your wife to defer her state pension for a year or more.

whizzywoo

where_are_we said:

If your financial situation allows it it might be beneficial for your wife to defer her state pension for a year or more.

Defering State Pension will not help them to claim Pension Credit.   It will be treated as if they are still receiving it for means tested benefits. 

davdee

So I guess the thing to do is stop her care claim for me and I claim severe disabilty,?  She is suffering cancer and cannot manage my care, we pay a friend to come in most days. 

Keep_pedalling

davdee said:

So I guess the thing to do is stop her care claim for me and I claim severe disabilty,?  She is suffering cancer and cannot manage my care, we pay a friend to come in most days. 

Exactly what is she claiming? If she is claiming carers allowance but can no longer care for you then yes it is probably no longer applicable and you should be claiming attendance allowance. You wife may also be entitled to attendance allowance as well, but the benefits board might be the best place to ask about this.

calcotti

The Carers Allowance will stop when the State Pension starts anyway. Unless she is unable to help you she should not cancel the claim because she can retain an ‘underlying entitlement’ to it which can increase PC entitlement due to the addition of the carer premium. Because she is not actually receiving CA it would not affect you getting an SAdAp but you can only get SDP if she also gets PIP. If she is getting PIP your PC would include two SDPs and the carer premium.

Without any SDP, even with the carer premium, the  PC maximum amount will be below your joint SP entitlement so no PC will be payable. You may still be entitled to some CTR (and HB if applicable) but will depend on your financial situation because you will not have automatic entitlement. Retaining the underlying entitlement to CA for your wife will help with these.

Keep_pedalling said:… you should be claiming attendance allowance.

OP says he is already getting PIP, therefor he should not be claiming AA.

Keep_pedalling said:... You wife may also be entitled to attendance allowance as well, .

However, as you say, if wife is not already getting a disability benefit she could apply for something, PIPif she applies before reaching pension age, AA if she applies afterwards.