State pension and carers allowance

CEON44

So in a couple of months I turn 66 and will receive state pension. But was surprised yesterday to get a letter stating that when I turn 66 I will no longer qualify for carers allowance. Bit if a bummer really and totally unexpected. I had to give up work 6/7 years ago to act as full time carer for my wife. Since then all I got was carers allowance which was a mighty come down from my salary. My wife receives ESA and PIP. But £68 per week was hard for me and a struggle. So I assumed at least when hitting pension age soon I would have a bit if breathing space after a tight few years. Is this set in stone? Any way around it? Not happy!!

sheramber

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

If you get State Pension

You cannot get the full amount of both Carer’s Allowance and your State Pension at the same time.

If your pension is £69.70 a week or more, you will not get a Carer’s Allowance payment.

If your pension is less than £69.70 a week, you’ll get a Carer’s Allowance payment to make up the difference.

Rubyroobs

State pension and carers allowance are overlapping benefits so if your state pension is more than £69.70 per week then you won't be paid it. However you can still have an underlying entitlement to carers allowance which would give you an extra carers premium on means tested benefits like pension credit or income related ESA or Universal credit. You won't be able to claim pension credit until you are both pension age.

calcotti

You State Pension will likely be paying you a lot more than CA so that will give you breathing room. Have you obtained a pension forecast?

What type of ESA is your wife getting?

CEON44

calcotti said:

You State Pension will likely be paying you a lot more than CA so that will give you breathing room. Have you obtained a pension forecast?

What type of ESA is your wife getting?

Yes I get full pension from May 1st.  Will be £812.40 per 4 weeks. Wife is on contribution based ESA. I know Im just ranting for sake of it but it’s annoying. I just dont get that state pension is classed as a benefit. 

Rubyroobs

CEON44 said:

calcotti said:

You State Pension will likely be paying you a lot more than CA so that will give you breathing room. Have you obtained a pension forecast?

What type of ESA is your wife getting?

Yes I get full pension from May 1st.  Will be £812.40 per 4 weeks. Wife is on contribution based ESA. I know Im just ranting for sake of it but it’s annoying. I just dont get that state pension is classed as a benefit. 

You probably would have qualified for Universal credit ( assuming no savings over 16k ) if you only had carers allowance and ESA as income up until now. However you likely won't once you are in receipt of state pension.

calcotti

So your income is going up by roughly £134/week when the SP starts.

To be clear - do you mean your wife gets the old contribution based ESA or does she get new style ESA?

If she has the old ESA then (unless you have joint capital over £16,000) then she could have been getting an income based ESA top up which would have included carer premium in the calculation.

If she has the old ESA and your only income is her ESA and your State Pension and if no joint capital over £6,000 I estimate that she would still be entitled to a small amount of income based ESA.

nobby1963

Would your wife be able to claim a higher Pip amount as no one will be receiving a carers allowance for her ?, I don’t know but isn’t there some kind of premium that can be paid to the Pip recipient in those circumstances …..

poppy12345

nobby1963 said:

Would your wife be able to claim a higher Pip amount as no one will be receiving a carers allowance for her ?,

That doesn't automattically entitle anyone to a higher PIP award.

nobby1963 said:

 I don’t know but isn’t there some kind of premium that can be paid to the Pip recipient in those circumstances …..

No. Severe disability Premium applies to the old legacy benefits but the wife won't qualify even if their ESA is Income Related because they live with their husband, who doesn't claim a qualifying disability benefit.

Altior

It seems completely logical. CA is in receipt as you can't work due to caring responsibilities. SP is in receipt as you can't work due to old age. If you can't work due to old age then you are not losing out due to caring, as you wouldn't be working anyway.

Obviously, many people do work past state pension age these days because of the rapid transformation/improvement in living standards, technology, healthcare etc, but the concept/theory of state pension is to provide an income for people otherwise too old to work. 

nobby1963

poppy12345 said:

nobby1963 said:

Would your wife be able to claim a higher Pip amount as no one will be receiving a carers allowance for her ?,

That doesn't automattically entitle anyone to a higher PIP award.

nobby1963 said:

 I don’t know but isn’t there some kind of premium that can be paid to the Pip recipient in those circumstances …..

No. Severe disability Premium applies to the old legacy benefits but the wife won't qualify even if their ESA is Income Related because they live with their husband, who doesn't claim a qualifying disability benefit.

What do I know !🥹