Can both my sister and her husband be classed as looking after each other?

helpfulsoul
helpfulsoul Community member Posts: 2 Listener
edited July 2022 in Benefits and income
Hi, my sister is very disabled with Rheumatoid Arthritis and is in receipt of higher rate PIP. Her husband is classed as her carer. He too has his own issues and has not worked for a while and was on ESA then moved to Univeral Credit. When he turned pension age, the universal credit finished and he is now in receipt of state pension.  Meanwhile, he had to make a claim as a couple for universal credit as my sister is not of pensionable age. They have just been awarded universal credit with the carers element. My sister's needs are different to my brother in law.  He is her "hands" as it were. He has angina, periphereal arterial disease and COPD. He manages to take care of her needs but is struggling to care for himself.  Would it be worth trying to claim Attendance Allowance for him or would it mean they would lose the carers element in Universal credit? In effect, can they both be classed as looking after each other as they have different needs? unsure what to do to help them.  thank you  

Comments

  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    edited July 2022
    Yes chary can both look after each other - as you say people often have different difficulties. Indeed people may also be able to do things for somebody else which they can't do for themselves. For example you might not be able to tie your own shoelaces but by sitting on different steps of the stair you might able to tie showlaces for somebody else.

    If he might qualify definitely worth applying for AA. He can still get the carer element of UC for looking after her.

    Is your sister getting the LCWRA element of UC?
  • helpfulsoul
    helpfulsoul Community member Posts: 2 Listener
    Hi, thank you for responding.  Yes,the UC includes a payment for my sister as LCWRA.  There is a carers figure of £168.81.  It says because my brother in law is caring for someone, IE my sister.  I was worried that if he went for Attendance Allowance, would he lose this £168.81? But if it can be demonstrated that their needs are different, which they are, then if he does get awarded AA he should still be able to get the carers element of £168.81 for caring for my sister?  thanks
     
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,056 Championing
    helpfulsoul said:
    then if he does get awarded AA he should still be able to get the carers element of £168.81 for caring for my sister?  thanks
     
    Yes, that's correct. You can be a carer for someone and still claim a disability benefit yourself.

  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    helpfulsoul said: I was worried that if he went for Attendance Allowance, would he lose this £168.81?  
    No.
    helpfulsoul said:..if it can be demonstrated that their needs are different, which they are, then if he does get awarded AA he should still be able to get the carers element of £168.81 for caring for my sister? 
    Absolutely. Lots of people look after each other.

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