Max savings for Pension Credit

MouldyOldDough

I am looking into Pension credit for my Father and Mother in law (both 90+)

They do have savings and he receives a small private pension on top of his state pension

She receives a minimum state pension

What is the maximum savings allowed before Pension Credit is affected ?

Alice_Holt

Above £10k a tariff income of £1 per £500 of savings is applied to reduce the PC payable.

Google AgeUK for confirmation.

calcotti

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Rubyroobs

It's not just a matter of what savings they have. A Pension credit calculation looks at amount of both their state pensions, savings and private pensions. As above use the Age uk calculator. If either is disabled and in receipt of a disability benefit then if the other cares for them they may be able to have a carers premium in the calculation too.

calcotti

Rubyroob. If either is disabled and in receipt of a disability benefit then if the other cares for them they may be able to have a carers premium in the calculation too.

Only if they establish an underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance by applying for CA.
If both have a disability benefit they could get joint Severe Disability Premiums.
Calculators, if used properly, should pick this up.

Keep_pedalling

What is the total income from those three pensions? If it is above £278.70 then they can’t claim PC regardless of their savings.

poppy12345

Keep_pedalling said:

What is the total income from those three pensions? If it is above £278.70 then they can’t claim PC regardless of their savings.

That's not exactly correct. If a couple are entitled to SDP and/or have an underlying entitlement to carers allowance then there maybe some entitlement to PC because it increases their maximum entitlement. That figure is for those that are not entitled to either SDP and /or CA.

calcotti

Keep_pedalling said:

What is the total income from those three pensions? If it is above £278.70 then they can’t claim PC regardless of their savings.

A couple with two SDPs and 2 carer premiums would get £495.20/week as their total maximum entitlement. Without knowing all the details it isn’t possible to know whether OP’s in-laws have an entitlement.

MouldyOldDough

calcotti said:

Rubyroob. If either is disabled and in receipt of a disability benefit then ifiy the other cares for them they may be able to have a carers premium in the calculation to

Only if they establish an underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance by applying for CA.
If both have a disability benefit they could get joint Severe Disability Premiums.
Calculators, if used properly, should pick this up.

They should be entitled to disability premiums (she had a pacemaker 7 years ago) he has severe mobility problems)  but won't consider claiming - too proud!! 

calcotti

MouldyOldDough said:

calcotti said:

Rubyroob. If either is disabled and in receipt of a disability benefit then ifiy the other cares for them they may be able to have a carers premium in the calculation to

Only if they establish an underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance by applying for CA.
If both have a disability benefit they could get joint Severe Disability Premiums.
Calculators, if used properly, should pick this up.

They should be entitled to disability premiums (she had a pacemaker 7 years ago) he has severe mobility problems)  but won't consider claiming - too proud!! 

To be entitled to severe disability premiums (SDP) both would have to receive a disability benefit. If he has never applied then she cannot get the SDP.

whizzywoo

As they are both over 90 years old and both have health problems they might qualify for Attendance Allowance.

Attendance Allowance would add the Severe Disability Premium to the Pension Credit threshold if they both receive it and no one claims Carer's Allowance or Carer's Premium for caring for them.

Attendance Allowance is all about personal care needs but it does not matter if they are not actually receiving any care.  It's highly unlikely that either of your parents would need an assessment.  Normally it is just the answers to the application form which are considered.

You can complete an online PDF form, save it and then print it off to send to the Attendance Allowance people.  I found it quite easy.  Have a look at it and see if you can persuade them to apply.  https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance

It's also possible if they were to each receive Attendance Allowance, that they could both claim Carer's Allowance for caring for each other.  They wouldn't actually receive the money but would have an underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance and this would again add an increase to the Pension Credit and they would still qualify for the SDP because it's only an Underlying Entitlement to Carer's Allowance.

Receiving Pension Credit, even if only less than a £1 per week will passport them to other benefits like free Council Tax.  Also free TV licence because they are over 75 years old.