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

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

helpfulsoul

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  

calcotti

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?