Benefits for carers aged over 60

[wendy]

If you are a carer over the age of 60, you could be entitled to several benefits, depending on your circumstances, as follows.
If you are in paid work

    Working Tax Credit

Benefits if you are not in paid employment

These benefits are known as “earnings replacement benefits”. You cannot usually receive more than one of these at the same time, because of the overlapping benefits rules:

    The State Pension, which for men is reached at the age of 65. Between 2010 and 2020, the State Pension age for women will move gradually from 60 to 65. You can check your retirement age on GOV.UK.
    Carer’s Allowance – in most cases, you will not be able to receive Carer’s Allowance once you receive your state pension. However, you will still have an “underlying entitlement” to it, and this can help you to qualify for other means-tested benefits.

Benefits if you are disabled

    Disability Living Allowance (DLA) if you are under 65 when you first claim
    Attendance Allowance (AA) if you are 65 or over when you first claim

Benefits if you care for children

    Child Benefit
    Child Tax Credit
    Guardian’s Allowance

Benefits to top up your income if it is low

These are called “means-tested benefits” because they will depend on your income and savings. These include:

    Pension Credit – this has two parts: the guarantee credit and the savings credit. The guarantee credit is paid to people who have reached the qualifying age and tops up their income. Between 2010 and 2020, the qualifying age for guarantee credit will gradually move from 60 to 65. You can check your qualifying age on GOV.UK. The savings credit is paid to people of 65 and over, and rewards them for having some savings. Pension credit can also help with paying the interest part of your mortgage.
    Housing benefit (to help pay rent).

If you receive means-tested benefits, you may be able to access certain other types of help, such as free prescriptions and Social Fund loans or grants. For more information, see means-tested benefits.
Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Payment is designed to help you pay your fuel bill during the winter months. To find out if you are eligible, check the criteria on the GOV.UK website or contact the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0845 915 1515.
Example

Harry and his wife Esther are both in their 70s. Harry is severely disabled and they live in their own property, on which there is an outstanding mortgage. They have small work (occupational) pensions and low savings. They may be entitled to the following benefits:

    State Pension (Harry)
    State Pension (Esther)
    AA (Harry)
    Pension Credit (this could include a carer's premium if Esther makes a claim for Carer’s Allowance. Pension Credit could also include a payment to help pay mortgage interest)

The official source of government information on benefits is GOV.UK.
http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyand ... er-60.aspx

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