Universal credit- could anyone advise?

It does not come across as if you are scrounging.

Parliament makes provision for such benefits.

I remember a television interviewer asking a woman something like "What would you say to someone who says you should not be getting this money?"

She replied with something like "I'd say Parliament makes the rules, if you're not happy, tell your MP, not me."

There are a couple of threads about universal Credit, one reached the 1000 post limit and another one then got started.

Those were mostly about Universal Credit in relation to people who are sick and/or disabled. But there might be bits in there that will hope. They are friendly, supportive threads.

There are other benefits, such as carer's allowance.

The current thread.

LINK > www.gransnet.com/forums/legal_and_money/1314298-For-anyone-who-has-problems-that-effect-the-physically-or-mentally

The older thread that reached 1000 posts.

LINK > www.gransnet.com/forums/legal_and_money/1309446-Diary-of-a-benefit-claimant

But this thread can run too for the specific issues that you mention.

I am not an expert on this, but to get the thread going.

It appears that there are three groups for Universal Credit.

People who are deemed to be fit for work, they need to either be in work, or carrying out work-related activity, which, I think but I am not certain, includes applying for work, carrying out training.

People who are not able to work at present but must be carrying out work-related activity.

People who are long-term sick or disabled, who are not required to do work or work-related activity but are required to "sign on" or whatever they call it now.

There has been some discussion on one of the threads to which i linked as to the jobcentre expecting someone who can hardly walk to "pop in" to the jobcentre to sign, but in that particular case a member of jobcentre staff did it over the telephone for her.

I am no expert on this, but in the hope that others might join in the discussion, it may be that the best approach to the situation is that your mother is a full-time carer for your father.

The system may have changed, but it used to be that depending upon his situation your father woud get Attendance Allowance and/or your mother would get Carer's Allowance.

LINK > www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance

LINK > www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

Some of this will depend if your father is over State Pension Age, and upon what is his medical situation.

I do not know if this links in to Universal Credit in any way, or if it is entirely separate from Universal Credit.

Hopefully others will join in this discussion.

I hope this helps.

Hi there, I think a little more information is required.
What are your fathers needs?
Does he qualify for some sickness benefit/ attendance allowance, could your mum claim a carers allowance for looking after him?
Why are you all shielding?

Go to the benefits calculator gov uk

It is free and anonymous and will tell you which benefits you are entitled to.

It is not scrounging, you will get it if you are entitled to it.

Please click on the text that is to the right of the > symbol.

LINK > www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

If your mother was working and she is now 65 you certainly aren't scrounging. She has paid into the system, now she should be able to benefit.
Do you know how long it will be before she gets her pension?

Anyone over the age of 50 should get benefits advice from AgeUk.

Will she be able to get her pension at 66? I’m 62 and working but I’m down for my pension at 66.

does your father get attendance allowance, at the higher rate.
if so, your mother should claim carer's allowance, pronto, as she will not get it once she has her state pension next year.
if he does not get AA, why not.
seek advice from Age UK or CAB.
good luck.

if your mother has not been paying national insurance for the last two years, nor had it credited to her through being registered with DWP, then they may ask her to make up payments before she gets her pension.

welbeck

if your mother has not been paying national insurance for the last two years, nor had it credited to her through being registered with DWP, then they may ask her to make up payments before she gets her pension.

No, they won't, but her Universal Credit will be means tested. She doesn't have an automatic entitlement.

carer's allowance is not means tested.
it's not much but at least you won't be bothered with having to keep signing on/ looking for work.
and your NI is credited.

And another…..

I would recommend phoning age uk.

My finances were in a hell of a mess when I phoned them (as was I!) and they were very, very knowledgeable and helpful.

I think that universal credit would depend on your mums personal ability to work, so would think that she would need to go down the route of being your father's carer, which is exactly the case .

www.entitledto.co.uk/help/better-Off-Calculation

You can fill out the above calculator with various scenarios, to see which one would suit.

It is not connected in anyway to the dept work and pensions, and is just to give you some different figures. You can delete each calculation after making it.

LINK > How to find out what State Pension you will get

It would be useful to know more about your fathers situation. What income does he have? State pension or something else? Does he need a carer? If so, for how long each day?

I should point out that your mother is unlikely to have the choice about whether she attends face to face meetings or not at the job centre. She can tell them she would prefer phone appts but ultimately benefit claimants have to do what dwp expects of them if they want to have any chance of getting any money.

I would echo other’s advice and recommend a benefit check appt at the citizens advice bureau. And there’s a universal credit helpline which your mother could try as a second resort.

I think this is another OP we will never hear from again.

How have they been managing the last two years with no income?

The daughter has been supporting them.
Perhaps they had savings, too.

They can claim Universal Credit as long as they do not have capital/ savings over 16k. Anything between 6k and 16k will reduce their monthly award. If your dad has a disability benefit in place such as PIP ( daily living rate would be needed ) or Attendance Allowance then your mum can be classed as a carer on Uc meaning she would have no work commitments. She can also claim carers allowance seperately to Uc but this is classes as an overlapping benefit so would be deducted from their monthly UC. If your dad is under pension age then he would need to hand in sick notes to UC and wait to be assessed for work capability which is awarded LCWRA ( Limited capability for work and work related activity ) would increase their Uc award.

welbeck

does your father get attendance allowance, at the higher rate.
if so, your mother should claim carer's allowance, pronto, as she will not get it once she has her state pension next year.
if he does not get AA, why not.
seek advice from Age UK or CAB.
good luck.

AA does not have to be at the higher rate to claim Carers allowance or UC carers element).