Really need advice please

roy_harper

I am a pensioner with Pension Credit. I've just been given higher rate Attendance Allowance.  I get carer's premium for looking after a younger family member who lives with me.  She gets higher rate PIP and esa with enhanced disability premium.  
She says I should be claiming a Severe Disability Premium with a PC 10 form and that is on its way.  
1. She wants to know if there is a cap on how much Pension Credit I can get.
2. She says she thinks she would be better off financially if I stopped my Carer's Premium which is paid into my Pension Credit, so that she can claim Severe Disability Premium for herself.
3. So should I cancel my carer's premium?  She wants our finances to be separated and though we technically look after each other's complex needs, she thinks I should cancel so she will be better off.

8dayweek

Not a direct answer BUT it’s probably important to establish which means-tested benefits your family member claims. 

SDP can only be included on an income-related legacy benefit - so if she’s on UC she’ll see no change on her side. 

8dayweek

But to roughly answer your question:

1. There’s no benefit cap to contend with. Pension Credit is calculated based on base rate plus any additional premiums you qualify for, less State Pension, any private Pensions and any reduction for capital over 10k. 

2. In that scenario you lose Carers Premium but gain the Disability Premium, however you could get both. Ending the Carers Premium only makes sense IF your relative is still on an income-related legacy benefit.

3. See 2. 

poppy12345

8dayweek said:

Not a direct answer BUT it’s probably important to establish which means-tested benefits your family member claims. 

SDP can only be included on an income-related legacy benefit - so if she’s on UC she’ll see no change on her side. 

OP says the family member is claiming ESA.. 

roy_harper said:

  She gets higher rate PIP and esa with enhanced disability premium.  

As you have an underlying entitlement to Carers allowance, this doesn't affect entitlement to SDP that she now how, assuming there are no other adults living with you. Unless they are all claiming a qualifying disability benefit or registered blind. 

8dayweek

poppy12345 said:

8dayweek said:

Not a direct answer BUT it’s probably important to establish which means-tested benefits your family member claims. 

SDP can only be included on an income-related legacy benefit - so if she’s on UC she’ll see no change on her side. 

OP says the family member is claiming ESA.. 

roy_harper said:

  She gets higher rate PIP and esa with enhanced disability premium.  

As you have an underlying entitlement to Carers allowance, this doesn't affect entitlement to SDP that she now how, assuming there are no other adults living with you. Unless they are all claiming a qualifying disability benefit or registered blind. 

My bad. It’s been a long day…!

poppy12345

8dayweek said:

poppy12345 said:

8dayweek said:

Not a direct answer BUT it’s probably important to establish which means-tested benefits your family member claims. 

SDP can only be included on an income-related legacy benefit - so if she’s on UC she’ll see no change on her side. 

OP says the family member is claiming ESA.. 

roy_harper said:

  She gets higher rate PIP and esa with enhanced disability premium.  

As you have an underlying entitlement to Carers allowance, this doesn't affect entitlement to SDP that she now how, assuming there are no other adults living with you. Unless they are all claiming a qualifying disability benefit or registered blind. 

My bad. It’s been a long day…!

No worries, we all have those days and sometimes it's easy to miss something that's been said. Been there, done that many times. 

roy_harper

So grateful for replies, but still not sure.  Can she apply for SDP now that I'm on AA, or would I have to stop my underlying Carer.  (No other adults in house).

poppy12345

If her ESA is Income Related then yes she can apply for SDP by ringing ESA. No, you do not have to stop the underlying entitlement to Carers allowance because this doesn't affect entitlement to SDP. 

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/severe-disability-premium 

roy_harper

Thank you for the link and advice. My local HB Dept are calling the £45.60 per week Carers Premium in their calculation letter.  This confused me because I think it is actually called Carers Addition and an Underlying something or other.

UPDATE:  She telephoned her ESA people and outlined her circumstances, but didn't do the phone claim. The advisor said she had spoken to her Supervisor, and No she wouldn't be entitled to SDP as long as I was getting the £45.60 Carer's Premium and Underlying thing.

FURTHER UPDATE:  She phoned ESA again to ask for the physical FORM IS10 to be posted to her, so we could both go to an charity advisor and was told they don't send it out, only do claims over the phone.  So she outlined her case again and this agent asked his Supervisor who said MAYBE she would be entitled. It's down to a decision maker. 
So she didn't do the telephone claim. She wanted a physical form IS10 we could take it to a charity to help us, as our circumstances are entwined, but they won't send out a form.

I feel I have to ask Pension Credit to stop my Carer's Premium and Underlying bit so that she can be independent as she wants.  My Attendance Allowance is ok, but the Severe Disablity PC10 form hasn't arrived yet to complete.

Daughter on the phone all day and getting conflicting advice has sent her into a complete meltdown.
Where do we go from here please?

poppy12345

You do not need to cancel the underlying entitlement or the carers premium because this does not affect entitlement to SDP for her. Please see the link I provided. 

There's a copy of the IS10 form here, if you have access to a printer you can print it off. IS10.pdf