State Benefits
Pension Credit
Pension Credit is a means-tested, non-taxable benefit payable in two parts the ‘Guaranteed Credit’ and the ‘Savings Credit’. The Guaranteed Credit lifts the claimant’s income to £130.00 per week for a single person and £198.45 for couples. The Savings Credit applies if you have other income over the basic State Pension from sources such as occupational pensions or savings. The amount of savings credit can be up to £20.40 for a single person and £27.03 a week for couples. To qualify you must be aged 60 or over (65 for the Savings Credit), have an income including tariff income below a prescribed level and be UK resident. Capital above £6,000 is assumed to produce a tariff income of £1 for every £500 or part thereof in excess of the limit. For people living in care homes the Capital threshold is higher at £10,000.
The Pension Credit Guarantee amount can include a premium for severe disability amounting to £52.85 per person if you are receiving Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance.
More about Pension Credit
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is a non-means tested non-taxable allowance for people aged 65 years or over who are physically or mentally disabled and need personal care. It is paid at two rates, a lower rate of £47.10 per week for people who need personal care by day or night and a higher rate of £70.35 per week for people who need care by both day and night.
More about Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance is a non-means tested non-taxable benefit paid to people under the age of 65 years who are physically or mentally disabled. There are two components, the care component and the mobility component.
The care component is paid in three rates. The lower rate is £18.65 if you need care for a significant portion of the day or are unable to prepare a cooked meal. The middle rate of £47.10 is if you needed frequent attention or continual supervision throughout the day or prolonged or repeated attention at night. The Highest rate of £70.35 per week is paid if you satisfy the care and/or attention conditions both day and night.
The mobility component is paid at two rates. A lower rate of £18.65 per week if, although able to walk, you need someone to provide guidance or supervision for most of the time you are outdoors. The higher rate of £49.10 per week is paid if you are unable or virtually unable to walk due to a physical disability are severely mentally impaired and also qualify for the care component at the highest rate.
More about Disability Living Allowance
Winter Fuel Payment
Winter Fuel Payment is an annual amount paid if you are aged 60 years or over. The amount paid will depend on your circumstances being either £100 or £ 200 with an addition of either £50 or £100 if you were aged 80 years or over.
If you live in a care home and are not in receipt of Pension Credit you should get £100 aged 60 to 79 and £150 if you are aged 80 years or over.
More about Winter Fuel Payments
While in Hospital
If you need to go into hospital this will not affect your State Pension. If you receive attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance these will stop after four weeks. This will also have the effect of reducing your Pension Credit if you are receiving the severe disability premium which is dependent on you being eligible for attendance Allowance.
Carer's Allowance and Carer Premium
Carer’s Allowance is a non-means tested but taxable benefit. It is paid at the rate of £48.65. You may be eligible if you regularly care for someone who is severely disabled, living at home, and in receipt of Attendance Allowance, or of the middle or higher rate of Disability Living Allowance, or certain other disability benefits.
To qualify you must be aged 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for the person. The amount you receive can depend on and can affect other benefits you receive.
More about Carer’s Allowance