Pension Credit / Carers Allowance etc - confused!

[masjntt]

Hi

I am trying to get some advice for my parents but havent a clue where to start - apologies in advance as this could turn out to be a very long thread

Ok my dad is 62 and in receipt of Incapacity Benefit since 2002 and DLA High Rate Care & High Rate Mobility. Prior to becoming ill my dad was self employed and has two private pensions {large forecast figs} which he can take anytime before he is 70. At the moment the Incapcity Benefit and DLA is his only income.

My mom is 54 and works part time earning £530 per month, she also has a smaller private pension and a company pension and can take her private pension from when she is 55 onwards.

My mom solely owns the own property which they live in and there is no mortgage / loan secured against the property, they also pay council tax and have a small amount of savings £4-5k. They jointly own a second property which my sister lives in and pays a token rent to them as she too is sick and disabled and unable to work. This "rent" is often loaned back to my sister to help with her bills etc as she struggles finacially being alone, unemployed and on sickness benefits only.

My dads health is now really deteriorating and my mom is seriously considering giving up work to look after him. We are unsure if they would be entitled to any benefits should she finish work.

They have been looking into Pension Credit and are totally confused by all of the terms and conditions etc.

Would it be beneficial for them to take their private pensions now-ish i.e. a lump sum and smaller pension income, or to leave their private pensions for as long as possible and see if they are eligible for pension credit or something else??

Can my mom claim carers allowance for him even though she owns two properties?

Sorry for so many questions but am totally totally confused by all this !
Thanks J x

[shywazz]

Hiya J

Try this site for pension forcasts and whats payable and when?

HM Revenue & Customs: Home Page just type in pensions and it will direct you to that information...

The rent/income from the second house your mom/dad own will be taken in2 account when being accessed, pension credits are to top up the state pensions which are too low, my own mom claims both pensions as she has NO private pension...she also claims the high rate of disability, which includes carers allowances etc, she gets help with housing costs, due to having no savings etc, so someone with savings might have to dis-close the figure and might lose out due to having saved money for rainy days, whether it will pay for them to take there pensions early, i really think there should talk that over with there finaical advisors, as for carers allownaces please read....
EIM76210 - Social security benefits: Carer’s allowance: summary

Part 10 Chapter 3 ITEPA 2003

Carer’s Allowance, which was called Invalid care allowance until 1 April 2003, is taxable.

The basic conditions for Carer’s Allowance are that the claimant must:

• <LI class=filledcircle>spend at least 35 hours every week caring for a severely disabled person <LI class=filledcircle>be at least 16 years old and below state pension age when he or she qualifies for Carer’s Allowance <LI class=filledcircle>not be doing work for which he or she earns (or expects to earn) more than £79 (from April 2004) a week
• not be attending a full-time course of education.

If you need more information about Carer’s Allowance ask your local Benefits Agency for leaflet FB31 'Caring for someone' and DS700 ‘Carer’s Allowance claim pack’.

Someone with more know how on such will be along soon, but hopefully the above will help you in the mean time....
Don't be afraid in claiming what you think your folk are entitled to, the long endless pages of information and such are meant/designed to put claimants off, there is billions of pounds in differant benefits that people hav'nt claimed due to the endless forms etc involved...But remember a chat with there personnel advisor about the pensions is advised.....

Jobcentre Plus might also shed light on some matters ur thread mentions....ie carers allowances, IPB etc etc

[masjntt]

Thank you Shywazz, some usefull info here for me to have a look through.

Happy Easter x