Hi, benefit help with upcoming changes

oldbanger

Good afternoon.

I need a bit of help, I have done a benefit calculation with turn 2 us and entitled to and both have different advice on what I am entitled to.

My daughter will be moving into her new home soon, I know I will have to paid bedroom tax.

I claim at present ESA Contribution based, PIP Enhanced/Enhanced and I receive a small occupational pension of £42 per week.
My mother who has dementia lives with me and claims attendance allowance.

Will I be able to claim carers allowance even though I do nothing physical for her but I remind her to take her medication, tell her what clothes to wear, make sure she keeps safe etc

Will I also be able to claim SDP as I'm not on income related ESA?.

calcotti

You cannot be paid Carers Allowance while receiving contribution based ESA due to ‘overlapping benefit’ rules.

Does the calculator indicates any entitlement to income based benefits or are you excluded due to capital over £16,000?

To be clear, is your ESA the old type of ESA or is it new style ESA? If you are on the old ESA then you can be assessed for income based top up (unless excluded by capital). If you claimed Carers Allowance you would get a carer premium added when calculating any income based ESA entitlement. The calculation could also get SDP included in the calculation.

Does your mother claim Pension Credit? If she does she can get SDP added to her PC.

You mention bedroom tax - are you claiming Housing Benefit?

oldbanger

Thank you for you responses
I do not have any savings
I claim Housing benefit
I was transferred from IB onto ESA, so I assume that's old style
My mother has savings so is not eligible for pension credit

calcotti

oldbanger said:

Thank you for you responses
I do not have any savings
I claim Housing benefit
I was transferred from IB onto ESA, so I assume that's old style

You should contact ESA and ask them to assess your entitlement to income based ESA to take into account SDP (after your daughter moves out). 

oldbanger said:

My mother has savings so is not eligible for pension credit

There is no savings limit for Pension Credit although savings over £10,000 will reduce her entitlement. Use a calculator to check whether she is entitled to PC if an SDP is included in the calculation.

oldbanger

I have just done a calculation for her and it says she is not entitled to pension credit or SDP as she has savings of over £70k and they calculate that she has earning of £113 from those saving (which she does not)

calcotti

oldbanger said:

I have just done a calculation for her and it says she is not entitled to pension credit or SDP as she has savings of over £70k and they calculate that she has earning of £113 from those saving (which she does not)

It was worth checking. The deduction is a flat rate - it doesn’t reflect interest earned, it also assumes that savings should be used to help support the claimant.

oldbanger

Thank you Calcotti

poppy123456

As your pension is £42 per week there will be some entitlement to the Income Related top up but the pension will reduce it £1 for £1. 

With the Enhanced disability premium of £17.75/ week and the SDP £68.70/week (once daughter moves out) total income Related top up £87.45/week. Your pension will reduce that to £45.45/week. 

Total ESA payable £163.05/week. 

You will then be entitled to free prescriptions/dental and eye tests.

oldbanger

Thank you Poppy

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @oldbanger. It is the very least you deserve. If we can do anything else to help, please don't hesitate to let us know. We are all here for you 

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

As your pension is £42 per week there will be some entitlement to the Income Related top up but the pension will reduce it £1 for £1. 

With the Enhanced disability premium of £17.75/ week and the SDP £68.70/week (once daughter moves out) total income Related top up £87.45/week. Your pension will reduce that to £45.45/week. 

Total ESA payable £163.05/week. 

You will then be entitled to free prescriptions/dental and eye tests.

Which could be increased by claiming Carer's Allowance so the carer premium could be added to, another £38.85/week.

poppy123456

Thanks calcotti, completely forgot about the carers premium.