Carer's Allowance / Carer's Credit.

DIYHero

I am at the point that I will have to become a full time cared for my 72 year old wife.
She gets a state pension of around £4500 per year and Attendance Allowance at the higher rate.
I am self employed aged 60 and get a company pension from a previous employer of £ 88.35 per week.
If I become a full time carer what benefits can I claim.
If I claimed carer's allowance would my wife lose the higher rate of attendance allowance.

sgthammer

No, Attendance Allowance isn't means tested. It's based on her needs. CA is similarly a flat rate, so start with that and see how you get on.

If you're having to do less or no self employment to provide care, you may be able to get Universal Credit, but that *is* means tested, so everything else you've got coming in will feed into the maths there: earnings reduce your UC by 55p in the pound, CA is pound for pound. It gets complicated quickly.

Spoonie_Turtle

sgthammer said:

No, Attendance Allowance isn't means tested. It's based on her needs. CA is similarly a flat rate, so start with that and see how you get on.

If you're having to do less or no self employment to provide care, you may be able to get Universal Credit, but that *is* means tested, so everything else you've got coming in will feed into the maths there: earnings reduce your UC by 55p in the pound, CA is pound for pound. It gets complicated quickly.

As is state pension (and any other type of pension) - UC is not generous to mixed-age couples.

OP you should do a benefits calculation:
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/benefits-calculator/