Widows Pension

abbyjubs

My 81 year old mother has just gone into a care home.  She only receives widows pension, and an employers pension from her husband.  Are you able to advise what benefits she might be able to claim to help cover the cost of her self-funded care home.  She can afford to cover the cost for a couple of years but that's all

JGB1955

If she is self-funding she is entitled to Attendance Allowance.

Brie

no state pension?

badmemory

She should be entitled to the higher level of attendance allowance but this will stop as soon as she is no longer self funding.  Is the widows pension actually the state pension & if so have you checked that she is getting the full amouont she should.  There has been quite a bit in the news about this recently.  She should also be getting the 25p extra for being over 80.

abbyjubs

she has never worked since she was 19 so no state pension, only widows.  I will look into attendance allowance - thank you

badmemory

I'm sure the rules change once someone in this position reaches 80.

abbyjubs

apparently there is an over 80s pension which is not based on ni contributions and you qualify if you have no state pension - definitely a possibility

kaMelo

https://www.gov.uk/over-80-pension