Q I am a 59 year old full time carer to my wife aged 57 who has dementia. We each get Incapacity Benefit (IB) of £70.95 a week and she has maximum Disability Living Allowance. Our council tax is reduced but is there any way of improving our benefit situation?
A Yes. You should claim Invalid Care Allowance. It will be deducted from your IB but it will enable you to get Income Support (IS). This will not be much initially but will mean you pay no council tax and you will both get free prescriptions. IS will increase to £37.20 a week when you reach 60.
Q My 18-year-old granddaughter went with her parents to live in New Zealand two years ago. If she comes home and lives with us can she get benefit while she looks for work?
A I cannot say for sure. The appropriate benefit, income- based Jobseeker's Allowance, is only available to those "habitually resident" in the UK. As she will have just arrived from abroad, the Jobcentre will have to decide whether she is or not.
Q Are we entitled to a reduction in our council tax of £1,057 a year? Our
weekly pension income is £207.58 and we have £13,000 savings.
A When council tax levels are high, even those in reasonable circumstances can get a rebate. You, for instance, are due a reduction of £3.17 a week.
Q We are pensioners receiving £14.56 a week Income Support (IS) topping up
our state pensions and Disability Living Allowance. We are expecting a gift of £6,000 to £7,000. How will this affect our benefits?
A Only IS could be affected and it would depend upon your level of savings including the windfall. Savings under £6,000 are ignored. Every £250 of savings over £6,000 reduce IS by £1. Your IS stops if savings are over £12,000.
Q I am a widow with £77.90 retirement pension and Income Support of £20.25. I get full rebates on my rent of £43.60 a week and council tax of £676 a
year. What will be the effect if my partner, with net earnings of £280-a-week comes to live with me?
A Taking his earnings into account would mean your losing Income Support and all of the rebates.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article