Hi, my name is Mallard33! We have tried to claim UC but we’re told we had too much income.

Mallard33

Please could someone advise me?

My husband is 70 in 2 weeks time. He had a stroke 3 years ago. He receives a state pension and attendance allowance, plus a monthly private pension approx £50.
I am a ‘waspi’ woman….. I am 64 years old, I cannot work as I am my husbands full time career. I receive weekly carers allowance plus a monthly private  pension of £64.
My husband cannot claim pension credit as I am not in receipt of a pension.
 We have tried to claim UC but we’re told we had too much income.
we pay full rent and council tax.

It seems as if most of the cost of living payments we cannot claim. It seems so unfair when most of the people I know have a much higher income and can still get help.

ANY advice would be welcome. Thank you.

Sue_Alumni

Hi @Mallard33 and thank you for getting in touch with the online community here at Scope.  First I do appreciate your frustration as so many women come within the "waspi" category and have been detrimentally affected by state retirement age legislation.

You cannot claim Pension Credit as a couple as you are below state retirement age. Your only option is to claim Universal Credit but you have been told that your income is too high.  I would suggest that you double check thus and use an online benefit calculator as it seems to me that, depending on the amount of your husbands state pension you are close to the threshold.   The calculator is really only a guide and ideally you should try and speak to someone at Citizens Advice or some other benefits advice organistion in your area.  I appreciate that as your husband's full time carer this might not be  practical but they may be able to offer a telephone appointment. 

You will not be entitled to the low income cost of living payment but your husband should receive a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 as he is in receipt of Attendance Allowance. 

I have slightly amended the title to your post to make it more visible to other members on the community. In the meantime do have a look around  the online forum  and use the categories page to browse topics. If you'd like to chat more casually with other members you can visit the coffee lounge, where there's also some games and friendly competitions to play.

Take care 
Sue 

calcotti

Your maximum UC would consist of 

• standard allowance
• possible LCWRA element (after 4 months)
• housing element
• care element

This will give a maximum entitlement.
The Carer's Allowance and all pension income will then be deducted in full so if this is more than the maximum entitlement there will be no UC payable.

Have you tried applying for Council Tax Reduction? Even if there is no Uc entitlement there may be entitlement to CTR.

Impossible to advise fully without more details about income.