State pension and carers allowance

CEON44

Altior said:

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. 

Yes. Seems logical I suppose and as I said I was just venting my frustration at what seems like giving in hand and taking away with the other. I know realise that there is nothing I can do about it but moan! Anyway as an aside why do we allow state pension to be called a benefit. I worked 40 years paying in for that pension. How can something bought and paid for be called a benefit. And of course my wife still needs care so my retirement isnt really retirement as I still have to do that. Moan over

McKneff

They are taking about  £280 monthly  away from you but giving you over £800 .

Am I reading that right. 

I would be jumpin' for joy

poppy12345

McKneff said:

They are taking about  £280 monthly  away from you but giving you over £800 .

Am I reading that right. 

Of course because they will be claiming their state pension, which is more than Carers allowance.

p00hsticks

CEON44 said:

 Anyway as an aside why do we allow state pension to be called a benefit. I worked 40 years paying in for that pension. How can something bought and paid for be called a benefit.

Not really one for this board, which is focussed on help and advice about benefits rather than benefit policy, but some relevant points are

Your NI contributions weren't going into a pot to pay for your personal pension - they went to pay for those people claiming benefits at the time, and to fund the Natinoal Health Service. 

Also the State Pension isn't necessarily dependent on you having to pay any NI at all - there are plenty of people who are working part time not earning enough to pay NI who are over the Lower Earnings Limit and building up NI credits.

There are also people such as your wife building up entitlement as a result of being on specific benefits such as ESA or Child Benefit.

Hence it's classed as a benefit.

Altior

CEON44 said:

Altior said:

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. 

Yes. Seems logical I suppose and as I said I was just venting my frustration at what seems like giving in hand and taking away with the other. I know realise that there is nothing I can do about it but moan! Anyway as an aside why do we allow state pension to be called a benefit. I worked 40 years paying in for that pension. How can something bought and paid for be called a benefit. And of course my wife still needs care so my retirement isnt really retirement as I still have to do that. Moan over

The state pension is a benefit that people can 'earn' the right to access once they reach a certain age, without being means tested. For now. 

Spoonie_Turtle

CEON44 said:

Altior said:

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. 

Yes. Seems logical I suppose and as I said I was just venting my frustration at what seems like giving in hand and taking away with the other. I know realise that there is nothing I can do about it but moan! Anyway as an aside why do we allow state pension to be called a benefit. I worked 40 years paying in for that pension. How can something bought and paid for be called a benefit. And of course my wife still needs care so my retirement isnt really retirement as I still have to do that. Moan over

Presumably it's to do with the overall funding source, what area of legislation covers it, who administers it, etc.  There's no 'allowing' it, it either is or isn't a benefit and in this case it is.

New-style ESA and JSA are based purely on NI contributions, like the State Pension is, with eligibility criteria (just as the State Pension has - age and residence are eligibility criteria) and nobody has a problem with those being called benefits

As for your wife needing care, that's why means-tested benefits take that into account and give you a higher potential entitlement.

sheramber

Why is the state pension any less of a benefit than  carer's allowance?

Both a paid by the state from money contributed  by those who  pay taxes, NIC, ETC.

There is no bank account in your name where all your NI contributions have been deposited. That  money wa spent long ago and your pension is provided courtesy of those who are paying  into the coffers now.