Pension credit and residential care

NedS

Hi,

Looking for some advice. If one member of a couple moves into permanent residential care, can the other member claim Pension Credit as a single person (they would not qualify as a couple) as their spouse is now no longer living with them?

A google search seems to suggest you must be living together to be assessed as a couple:

https://www.selecthealthcaregroup.com/a-guide-to-receiving-pension-credit-in-a-care-home-news-131

Do you get pension credit in a care home if you move into permanent care? Yes, you can still claim Pension Credit in permanent residential care. If you have an ongoing claim for Pension Credit, it will be reassessed. Any benefits related to your housing costs for your previous home will stop. If you have a partner, you may be assessed individually if one of you moves into a care home permanently.

DWP website says:

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility

If you have a partner

You must include your partner on your application.

You’ll be eligible if either:

• you and your partner have both reached State Pension age
• one of you is getting Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age

A partner is either:

• your husband, wife or civil partner - if you live with them
• someone you live with as a couple, without being married or in a civil partnership

Keep_pedalling

Yes, they are now treated as individuals as far as PC is concerned.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/siteassets/documents/factsheets/fs39-paying-for-care-in-a-care-home-if-you-have-a-partner.pdf