Claiming Benefits

Make sure you’re claiming all the Benefits you’re entitled to

These may include:

Attendance Allowance: This is not means-tested. (Note: If/when you receive NHS Continuing Healthcare your Attendance Allowance will stop); read more about Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance: From 2013 this will be replaced by the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Pension Credit
Winter Fuel Payment: This is not means-tested and, if you’re eligible, you should receive it whether or not you’re in a Care Home
Warm Home Discount: If your name or your partner’s name is on your fuel bill, you could be eligible for this
12-Week Property Disregard: Remember that your local authority cannot take the value of your property into consideration as part of your assets for the first 12 weeks of your Care
Housing Benefit: While you’re still living at home, make sure you’re receiving the right Housing Benefits
Registered Nursing Care Contribution
Carers Allowance (if relevant)
Note about Council Tax: If your home is empty, your Council Tax bill should be nil; and if you’re a carer for a disabled person you may be entitled to a discount
Deferred Payment Arrangements: Instead of selling your home to pay for care, you may be able to negotiate a Deferred Payment Arrangement with your local authority; it means you keep hold of the property, the local authority pays your care fees for the time being, and those fees are repaid to the local authority once the house is eventually sold.

[Note: this is not an exhaustive list.]

Additional information

Care To Be Different does not provide financial advice. We strongly recommend you take professional and independent financial advice when making any decisions about Care Planning, tax and Benefits.

For more information about benefits, explore some of the websites on our links and resources page. The Alzheimer’s Society website has useful information, as does Carers UK.

You may also find it helpful to browse the Department for Work and Pensions website and Direct.gov.