Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

Not sure I'm entitled to any benefit help, am I?

47 replies

happyinherts · 26/02/2023 17:38

I have six years until retirement. DH is retired already, being older than me and is only in receipt of state pension.

I had to give up employment a few years' back to care for elderly relatives - did not claim care allowances.

Now I need an income as cannot cope on state pension alone. I'm actively seeking work but not having much luck, probably due to age.

I can't claim UC because it has to be a joint claim, I understand. DH has state pension. You can't have both.

Can't claim pension credit as both of us have to be of pensionable age.

Is there anything I can claim? Have I fallen through a net? It's getting difficult to even afford bus fares - Londoners of my age have a free pass, and that's walkable distance. Seems I fall foul of everything....

OP posts:
Gingerkittykat · 26/02/2023 17:54

Have you put your figures into a benefits calculator? You might be entitled to a small amount of UC to top your income up.

Have you applied for council tax benefit and free prescriptions on the grounds of a low income/

MichelleScarn · 26/02/2023 17:57

So are you 59? What was your income when caring for the relatives as just carers allowance is a paltry £60 a week isn't it? Are you on JSA just now?

Suzi888 · 26/02/2023 18:01

You are a mixed age couple, you can claim UC. Not sure if the rules are different in England but I doubt it.

CornishTiger · 26/02/2023 18:07

You can claim UC as a mixed age couple.

You should have claimed it before and would have had carers element included. You wouldn’t have been required to look for work.

If you are no longer a carer you will have a commitment to look for work now as part of your claimant commitment.

Your partners state pension will be taken into account.

Do you have housing costs?

LadyLapsang · 26/02/2023 18:07

Have you checked whether you qualify for contribution based JSA based on your contributions when you were working?

Babyroobs · 26/02/2023 18:19

It would be UC as a joint claim. If you don't have rent to pay or either of you have health conditions then you are unlikely to qualify. Are you still a carer - could you claim carers allowance now?

Viviennemary · 26/02/2023 18:22

Do you get job seekers allowance. You should be entltled to bemefit if your DH is only on a state pension. Does he have a private pension as well.

Babyroobs · 26/02/2023 18:27

Viviennemary · 26/02/2023 18:22

Do you get job seekers allowance. You should be entltled to bemefit if your DH is only on a state pension. Does he have a private pension as well.

Not necessarily. Op would only be eligible for new style JSA if she has worked and paid NI contributions in tax years 2021-22 and 2020-21. Otherwise it's UC and unless they have rent to pay or one has health conditions, then there is unlikely to be any entitlement to UC as the state pension is deducted pound for pound from any Uc entitlement. If state pension is very low then they may qualify but most people now will get new state pension of £182 a week which far exceeds the standard couples element of UC.

Original poster
happyinherts · 26/02/2023 18:38

I've never claimed carer's allowance. I didn't feel it was right - it was family!

I don't claim Job Seeker's allowance because I'm just trying to find out if I can - or if it still exists. I haven't worked for a while. I had money coming in from an adult 'child' too - who has now left home, and I also had enough savings - which are now being whittled away.

I don't have rent to pay - or any health conditions. Wasn't aware we could put in a joint claim for Universal Credit if in receipt of State Pension. No private pension, just 1 x State Pension.

OP posts:
CornishTiger · 26/02/2023 18:38

Should prob still claim new style JSA for the NI credit though?

How is your state pension forecasts looking @happyinherts

AnotherEmma · 26/02/2023 18:54

happyinherts · 26/02/2023 18:38

I've never claimed carer's allowance. I didn't feel it was right - it was family!

I don't claim Job Seeker's allowance because I'm just trying to find out if I can - or if it still exists. I haven't worked for a while. I had money coming in from an adult 'child' too - who has now left home, and I also had enough savings - which are now being whittled away.

I don't have rent to pay - or any health conditions. Wasn't aware we could put in a joint claim for Universal Credit if in receipt of State Pension. No private pension, just 1 x State Pension.

How many years were you a carer without claiming carer's allowance? Not only did you forego the money, you also missed out on national insurance credits (you would have got class 1 credits) which count as qualifying years for your state pension. If you stopped caring recently, I advise you to see if you can apply for carer's credit for the period you were caring: www.gov.uk/carers-credit

I suggest that you try an online benefits calculator to see if you would be entitled to Council Tax Reduction - but put your husband as the main claimant, as the schemes can be more generous to pension age claimants than working age ones.

AnotherEmma · 26/02/2023 19:06

You can apply for help with health costs here:
services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/apply-for-help-with-nhs-costs/apply-online

Babyroobs · 26/02/2023 19:10

AnotherEmma · 26/02/2023 18:54

How many years were you a carer without claiming carer's allowance? Not only did you forego the money, you also missed out on national insurance credits (you would have got class 1 credits) which count as qualifying years for your state pension. If you stopped caring recently, I advise you to see if you can apply for carer's credit for the period you were caring: www.gov.uk/carers-credit

I suggest that you try an online benefits calculator to see if you would be entitled to Council Tax Reduction - but put your husband as the main claimant, as the schemes can be more generous to pension age claimants than working age ones.

Show quote history

I'm not sure how op would prove she was caring for those years though ?

Babyroobs · 26/02/2023 19:17

Op I think you have fallen through a net as you say. UC is very poor for mixed age couples unless one is ill or disabled and the other is a carer. It is so much less generous than when people used to be able to claim Pension credit when one turned pension age although I totally understand why the rules changed. Perhaps focus on getting some voluntary work experience, maybe with somewhere like CAB or AGE Uk and then it often leads to paid work and they are more likely to take on older people. They will also pay travel costs/ expenses for you.

Original poster
happyinherts · 26/02/2023 19:21

Thanks all. I'm more than happy to go out to work - and will look at volunteer options first.

I don't think I / we qualify for anything as I can't backdate carer's allowance for someone who's passed away! Anyway, I'm not regretful of the fact I didn't claim care allowance. Morally I didn't think it was right, and yes, I've forfeited my NI credits, but I've survived this far. In due course the aim is to downsize property if need be, but I thought I'd explore all avenues.

OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 26/02/2023 19:30

Carer's credit is different from carer's allowance and I'm saying you should at least ask whether it would be possible to apply retrospectively.
The evidence would be that the person you cared for was in receipt of a disability benefit (eg Attendance Allowance or PIP) and your own declaration that you cared for them. It wouldn't entitle you to any money but it would fill gaps in your NI record.

AnotherEmma · 26/02/2023 19:31

Personally i think it's morally very wrong that carer's allowance is such a low amount. You are (or were) in a privileged position if you were able to go without that money.

Moonicorn · 26/02/2023 19:34

You haven’t ‘fallen through the cracks’ you made an unwise decision to stop working but also not to claim carer’s allowance. Why would you muck about volunteering, just get another job 🤷🏼‍♀️ lots of them out there.

Original poster
happyinherts · 26/02/2023 19:39

@Moonicorn - I'm happy with my decision to stop working and not claim carer's allowance. I don't regret it in the slightest.

And yes, I'm applying for jobs. At 60 years old, I am not first in the queue, okay?

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 26/02/2023 19:43

happyinherts · 26/02/2023 19:39

@Moonicorn - I'm happy with my decision to stop working and not claim carer's allowance. I don't regret it in the slightest.

And yes, I'm applying for jobs. At 60 years old, I am not first in the queue, okay?

Even if you had decided to claim carers allowance it may not have been paid if for example the person you were caring for got a severe disability premium on a benefit like pension credit as they would lose that, so it's not always just a straightforward decision to claim. This stops a lot of people applying. I agree it is harder to find work as you get older. I am 54 and had a short period of unemployment last year and felt it was so much harder to get a job than when I had previously tried. Fortunately I was hired by a charity who values older workers. Everyone in my office is over 55, and a few past state pension age ! So keep going, there will be places out there who will hire you.

Original poster
happyinherts · 26/02/2023 19:48

Yes @Babyroobs There was that issue to contend with. It wasn't as straightforward as it seems.

Thank you for your positivity. I hope there'll be something out there for me, but if not, I'll set myself up in business again. Just wanted advice from anyone in a similar position re benefit eligibility as it is a bit of a minefield.

Glad you're happy in your role. Sounds ideal!

OP posts:
Moonicorn · 26/02/2023 19:50

happyinherts · 26/02/2023 19:39

@Moonicorn - I'm happy with my decision to stop working and not claim carer's allowance. I don't regret it in the slightest.

And yes, I'm applying for jobs. At 60 years old, I am not first in the queue, okay?

Not trying to be rude but it exasperates me a little when people get themselves into these completely foreseeable situations then expect the state to pick up after them.

Original poster
happyinherts · 26/02/2023 19:53

I don't 'expect' the state to pick up after me at all. I was just enquiring.... I'll pick up my business again if need be - I'll go out to work.

You have to do what you do at any given period of your life. Situations change - they're not always foreseeable either, but don't worry, I'll survive. Not 'expecting' anyone to fund me.

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 26/02/2023 19:54

Moonicorn · 26/02/2023 19:50

Not trying to be rude but it exasperates me a little when people get themselves into these completely foreseeable situations then expect the state to pick up after them.

Show quote history

How is becoming a carer foreseeable ? Maybe you will be in that situation one day and have to make a difficult decision to give up work or care for a much loved relative. Carers save the government a fortune rather than the state picking up after them so. So just fuck off with your judgemental crap.

Original poster
happyinherts · 26/02/2023 19:55

Oh, and if the government hadn't moved the goal posts - I'd be of pensionable age myself now!

OP posts: