State Pension Age, Carer's Allowance and ESA

CatieE

I wonder if anyone can advise us please. Our aunt and uncle have always cared for their disabled child. When they reached state pension age last year, the payment made to our aunt for Carer's Allowance stopped because there was no longer any entitlement to it.

Our question is, should their daughter's payments have changed or would they remain exactly the same? Their daughter receives full PIP and Income Related ESA - she is in the support group and very disabled.

Thank you for any advice.

Newcad

The Carerers Allowance would stop as it is an overlapping benefit with State Pension.

That change would not affect the daughters PIP at all

However if the daughter was/is living alone (or can be classed as living alone) then the CA stopping would result in an entitlement to Severe Disability Premium (SDP) with her IR ESA.
SDP is currently an extra £69.40 a week.

However that isn't done automatically, and if she does live alone (or can be classed as living alone) she has to let ESA know that CA is no longer being claimed by someone for looking after her.

There is a specific form to do that, an IS10, but these days it is usually done by simply phoning ESA and asking for the SDP to be added, they will take the details over the phone.

More about the SDP can be found here: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Severe-Disability-Premium/What-is-a-Severe-Disability-Premium

CatieE

Thank you Newcad for your clear and detailed answer - it has helped us so much.

Spoonie_Turtle

The underlying entitlement to CA would increase any potential Pension Credit.  I infer from your post they don't claim this?  If they don't, they should check any entitlement just in case.

CatieE

Thank you Spoonie_Turtle. No, they wouldn't qualify for Pension Credit.