Help for dad 11 November 2022 at 7:24PM in Benefits & tax credits 37 replies 2.5K views

Marjrie

My 89 year old father did National service in the army from 1952 to 1954. Worked on building sites until he was 70.

He gets state pension and no other income, he has some savings of £34,000 but these are dwindling fast, he pays full council tax and runs a little car. He has heart problems so needs to keep warm, he lives alone so wouldn’t get attendance allowance.
A little bit extra would take a bit of pressure off.
thank you for reading 

poppy12345

Attendance Allowance is a disability benefit paid if you have a health condition that affects your daily life, it has nothing to do with living alone. See link. https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/attendance-allowance/ It's also not means tested so savings/capital will not affect the amount you maybe entitled to.

Pension credit is means tested but whether he's entitled to it will depend on how much his state pension is per week. If he state pension is £182.60 or more per week then there's no entitlement to pension credit. https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility

If his state pension is less than this there maybe some entitlement to PC however, with savings of £34,000 that's £24,000 above the £10,000 allowed for pension credit and for every £500 or part there of over £10,000 there's a £1 per week deduction, so there may not be any entitlement to pension credit.

As he's of state pension age then he will be entitled to the winter fuel payment paid between now and January 2023. He'll also be entitled to the £400 energy grant if he's named on the electric account, this will be paid £66/67 per month up until March 2023.

He can apply for council tax reduction but with savings of £34,000 he may not be entitled to anything. That's quite a decent amount of savings.

diystarter7

Att Allw - very misleading as i found out during visits to some cleints as they'd got the forms and said they did not have a carer. I was not a benefits expert but knew how to direct people if i felt the poss qualified

Not means tested

As he gets older and possibly frialer, he may want to cinder shelter housing as easier to mange etc etc but not everyone's cup of tea

poppy12345

diystarter7 said:

Att Allw - very misleading as i found out during visits to some cleints as they'd got the forms and said they did not have a carer. I was not a benefits expert but knew how to direct people if i felt the poss qualified

Not means tested

Pardon?... what's misleading?

Spoonie_Turtle

In the eyes of DWP, savings over £10,000 for pensioners are deemed to be means to live.  However as they are dwindling, he could possibly apply for help with council tax if they reach £16,000.

It might also help to check his energy bills, whether they're using estimated or actual readings and whether they are really high or not.  (I know you said he needs to keep warm but still best to check the bills are not higher than they need to be.)

Placitasgirl

Hi Marjrie 

Have you checked that your Dad has received/is receiving the additional help being paid to assist with the cost of living he's entitled to? He should have received a £150 Council Tax Rebate from his local authority if his property is in Council Tax Band A, B, C or D. 

He should also have been receiving a Winter Fuel Payment annually - this year it includes an additional "Pensioner Cost of Living Payment" . 

He should also be receiving £66 per month for six months to help towards his fuel bills, though how this is paid varies by supplier. 

You mention that Dad wouldn't get Attendance Allowance as he lives along. This is incorrect; if you have an illness or disability you can claim Attendance Allowance even if no one is actually giving you the care you need and even if you live alone, so this may be worth following up. 

I'm pretty sure that the level of Dad's savings will preclude him from claiming benefits, but do check that he's in receipt of all of the help he can and should currently be receiving to help with the rise in the cost of living. 

calcotti

poppy12345 said:. 

He can apply for council tax reduction but with savings of £34,000 he may not be entitled to anything. That's quite a decent amount of savings. 

A pensioner can’t apply for CTR with savings over £16,000 - unless they receive guarantee Pension Credit in which case the savings would be ignored. Currently therefore OP’s dad cannot apply.

Spoonie_Turtle

poppy12345 said:

diystarter7 said:

Att Allw - very misleading as i found out during visits to some cleints as they'd got the forms and said they did not have a carer. I was not a benefits expert but knew how to direct people if i felt the poss qualified

Not means tested

Pardon?... what's misleading?

I think they meant the name of Attendance Allowance.  It implies to some - as indeed the OP thought - that they actually need to be paying for an attendant.
(Kind of like how people have various misconceptions about PIP until they look into it.)

peteuk

Marjrie said:

My 89 year old father did National service in the army from 1952 to 1954. Worked on building sites until he was 70.

He gets state pension and no other income, he has some savings of £34,000 but these are dwindling fast, he pays full council tax and runs a little car. He has heart problems so needs to keep warm, he lives alone so wouldn’t get attendance allowance.
A little bit extra would take a bit of pressure off.
thank you for reading 

Have you looked at any of the Service charities (RBL, SSAFA or Single Service Benevolent Funds) to see if that provide a little support.  

diystarter7

Spoonie_Turtle said:

poppy12345 said:

diystarter7 said:

Att Allw - very misleading as i found out during visits to some cleints as they'd got the forms and said they did not have a carer. I was not a benefits expert but knew how to direct people if i felt the poss qualified

Not means tested

Pardon?... what's misleading?

I think they meant the name of Attendance Allowance.  It implies to some - as indeed the OP thought - that they actually need to be paying for an attendant.
(Kind of like how people have various misconceptions about PIP until they look into it.)

Exactly what I meant, many thanks, appreciated.

@Spoonie_Turtle

Pollycat

From GOV.uk
Attendance Allowance: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

It does state on there:

You do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim.

I'm not sure if the forms are clear on that as it's some years since I completed them for my Mum.

I can see how the description of this benefit could cause confusion.

OP - it's really important how you answer the questions on the AA claim form.
Maybe try to get an appointment at CAB or Age Concern for advice.