Pension credit eligibility when someone claims carers allowance for looking after you .

Moolily

Hi, I seem to be going round in circles.  My mom gets full state pension and PIP. She has been told that because I claim carers allowance for looking after her , she doesn't qualify for pension credit.  Online searching suggests there is a higher criteria amount if she claims PIP , pension helpline said this is incorrect , but aparantly if anyone claims carers for looking after you , you can't get pension credit.  She is only a pound or two over the upper limit of P.C with her basic state pension , but misses out on a lot of the extras that come with pension credit , such as the fuel allowance etc. can anyone clarify this please ? 

marcia_

Moolily said:

Hi, I seem to be going round in circles.  My mom gets full state pension and PIP. She has been told that because I claim carers allowance for looking after her , she doesn't qualify for pension credit.  Online searching suggests there is a higher criteria amount if she claims PIP , pension helpline said this is incorrect , but aparantly if anyone claims carers for looking after you , you can't get pension credit.  She is only a pound or two over the upper limit of P.C with her basic state pension , but misses out on a lot of the extras that come with pension credit , such as the fuel allowance etc. can anyone clarify this please ? 

 Claiming carers allowance for someone on pip or dla reduces the applicants means tested benefits. If you stop claiming carers allowance she will get the premium that will award her pension credit 

sheramber

You can check what she  could get hete

https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/result/854b387e-2665-4b2f-be90-c5f35511c6b0

Tescodealqueen

You get a higher rate if you get PIP, live alone or live only with someone who themselves gets PIP and no one claims carers allowance for looking after you so if mum is only a couple of pounds over limit and satisfies the other conditions then it is the fact you claim Carers Allowance that prevents Pension Credit

Rubyroobs

If you were not claiming carers allowance she would receive the severe disability premium on her Pension credit which would raise her applicable amount by £81.90 a week ( same amount as you receive in carers allowance ). This is assuming she also lives alone or all other adults in the household also receive a disability benefit. 

Moolily

Many thanks for everyone's help.