Guide to Social Security and Other Benefits for Older People

Guide to Social Security and Other Benefits for Older People This Fact Sheet, which has been produced by Scottish Borders Council's Welfare Benefits Service, outlines the main benefits which you may be entitled to if you are aged 60 or over. It is a general guide only, and should not be treated as a statement of the law. Rates of benefit quoted are correct as from April 2009. When you reach the age of 60, there are a number of social security benefits you may be entitled to. Some depend on your national insurance contributions (i.e. 'contributory benefits'), some are payable if you have a disability ('disability benefits'), and others take into account your income and savings (i.e. 'means-tested benefits'). Retirement Pension contributory benefits Retirement Pension is based on your national insurance contributions (or, in some cases, the contributions paid by your husband/late wife or surviving civil partner). It is payable from the age of 65 (for men) and 60 (for women born before 5 April 1950). For women born after 6 April 1955 it is payable from age 65 and for those born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1955 it will be payable between age 60 and 65. If you have not paid sufficient contributions, you may receive less than the basic rate of Retirement Pension. If you have paid additional contributions, you may receive extra pension. In some circumstances, you may be able to claim additional money for your dependant. Retirement Pension is taxable and counts in full as income if you claim any means-tested benefits. Any earnings you receive after reaching state pension age do not reduce your state pension. If you carry on working and do not draw your pension you may earn extra state pension or a oneoff lump sum. If you have already claimed your state pension, you can give up your claim in order to earn extra state pension. You can only give up a state pension once, and cannot backdate that choice. In 2009-10 the basic rate of Retirement Pension is 95.25. The allowance for an adult dependent is 57.05. These rates are increased every April. You may also be entitled to Pension Credits see pages 3 and 4. What happens if you have been unfit for work prior to retirement? Long-term Incapacity Benefit (IB) and contribution-based Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) stops the day you reach state pension age. You should claim state pension instead. If you were getting an age addition with your IB within 8 weeks of reaching state pension age, this will be paid with your state pension but will be reduced if you are paid a second state pension. Short-term IB When you reach pension age you can choose to stay on short-term IB rather than draw your state pension. However, you should be aware that IB is worth less than a full-rate 1

state pension, and any personal or occupational pension above 85 will reduce your IB but will not reduce a state pension. When short-term IB runs out you cannot move onto long-term IB. Incapacity Benefit (IB) is being replaced by Employment & Support Allowance. Contributionbased Employment & Support Allowance stops the day you reach state pension age. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) disability benefits Disability Living Allowance is a non-contributory, non-means-tested benefit for people who qualify before their 65 th birthday and who require assistance with personal care and/or mobility because of illness or disability. There are two components: a Care Component for help with personal care or supervision; a Mobility Component for those who have difficulty getting around. The Care Component is payable at three rates depending on the level of care and/or supervision the claimant needs. The Mobility Component is paid at two rates depending upon the nature of the difficulty the person has with getting around. DLA is non-taxable, and may increase the amount of means-tested benefits that you are entitled to. Attendance Allowance Attendance Allowance is a non-contributory, non-means-tested benefit for people who qualify after their 65th birthday and require assistance with personal care or supervision because of illness or disability or frailty. (There is no mobility allowance for people whose difficulty with walking starts after their 65th birthday) Attendance Allowance is payable at two rates depending on the level of help required. It is nontaxable, and may increase the amount of means-tested benefits that you are entitled to. The higher rate of 70.35 per week is payable to a person who needs help and/or supervision both during the day and throughout the night. The lower rate of 47.10 per week is payable to someone who needs help and/or supervision either during the day or throughout the night. NB: Special rules apply to make it easier to claim DLA Care Component and Attendance Allowance if someone is terminally ill. How to claim DLA or Attendance Allowance Both benefits are claimed using a self-assessment form. Claim packs are available from the Jobcentre Plus office or by calling the Benefits Enquiry Line on Freephone 0800 88 22 00. The Benefits Enquiry Line can help to complete the claim form. If you prefer, you can request a home visit by a doctor, instead of completing the second part of the form, or alternatively, contact the Welfare Benefits Service if you want help to complete forms in your own home. 2

Carer s Allowance April 2009 If you are looking after someone who receives the Care Component of DLA (at the higher or middle rate), or Attendance Allowance (higher or lower rate), you may be entitled to claim Carer s Allowance (CA). You must be caring for the person for at least 35 hours per week, and, if working, you must not be earning more than 95 per week after certain deductions -seek advice. Carer s Allowance is taxable. It counts in full as income and will not be paid if you have been awarded an over-lapping benefit such as state retirement pension, but establishing an underlying entitlement may increase the amount of means-tested benefits you and your partner can claim. How to claim Carer s Allowance Claim on form DS700 which you can get from a Jobcentre Plus office or by ringing the free Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00 or online at www.direct.gov.uk As long as you claim CA within 3 months of the date that DLA or AA is awarded, your claim for CA can be treated as having been made on the first day that DLA became payable. Thus it can be fully backdated to that time, as long as you satisfied the other conditions of entitlement throughout that period. NB: In some circumstances, if you claim CA, it may affect the benefits of the person you are looking after. Seek advice before claiming. benefits if you are on a low income Your entitlement to any of the following means-tested benefits is very much dependant on your individual circumstances. If you are in any doubt, you should make a claim. There are thousands of older people in Scotland who should be receiving means-tested benefits, but have never claimed them. Pension Credit Pension Credit (PC) is a means-tested benefit for people aged 60 and over. PC has two elements: the Guaranteed Credit for people aged 60 and over; and the Savings Credit for people aged 65 and over, which is intended to provide extra money for people who have saved or made additional pension provision for retirement. Claimants may be entitled to one or both credits. Pension Credit claimants can work more than 16 hours a week. PC can meet mortgage interest payments and other housing costs. If you get the guaranteed credit you will be passported to full Housing and Council Tax benefits. PC may also entitle you to other types of help including free dental treatment, help with hospital fares, and help from the Social Fund seek advice. The standard minimum guarantee credit for single claimants is 130.00 and for couples is 198.45. These amounts may be increased significantly if a claimant or partner has a disability or is a carer. The upper capital limit has been abolished, but for those with capital over 6,000 (or 10,000 if permanently in care), they will be deemed to have 1 weekly income for every 500 over these amounts. From November 2009, the capital disregard for pension credit and pensioner-related housing benefit and council tax benefit purposes will be increased from 6,000 to 10,000. 3

Claims made after 27 October 2008 may be backdated up to 3 months, if appropriate and where requested. How to make a claim Contact the Pension Credit Application Line on: Tel. 0800 99 1234. Your application form will be completed over the telephone and sent out for you to check the information and to sign if you are sure it is correct. If you require more help this can be arranged through your local Pension Service on: 0845 6060 265 NB: PC does not include an amount for children. If you are responsible for children you will also have to claim Child Tax Credit seek advice. Housing Benefit Housing Benefit is a means-tested benefit for people on a low income who are responsible for paying rent on their home. Those who are awarded Guarantee Pension Credit are entitled to full Housing benefit. Those who are only entitled to Savings Pension Credit will not qualify if their capital is in excess of 16,000. The amount that you receive may be affected if you have nondependants living with you e.g. a grown-up son or daughter. However, the amount will not be reduced for dependants if you or your partner get the care component of Disability Living Allowance (any rate), or Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance; or if either of you are registered blind or ceased to be registered within the last 28 weeks. Council Tax Benefit Council Tax Benefit is a means-tested benefit for people on a low income, who are responsible for paying Council Tax. Those who are awarded Guarantee Pension Credit are entitled to full Council Tax benefit. Those who are only entitled to Savings Pension Credit will not qualify if their capital is in excess of 16,000. If you are on a low income and live with other people e.g. you live with relatives in their home, you may also qualify for benefit even although you are not responsible for paying the Council Tax bill. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are claimed from Scottish Borders Council. Help with National Health Service (NHS) Costs If you are aged 60 or over, you qualify automatically for free prescriptions for medicines and free eye tests. Depending on your circumstances you may also qualify for free or reduced charges for other National Health Service (NHS) services. In some cases, you have to show that you are on a low income seek advice. Social Fund The Social Fund, administered by the Department of Work & Pensions, is a system of grants and loans to assist with the cost of certain needs including, for example, furniture and household items, clothing and some travel expenses. Community Care Grants are intended to help people return to the community or to enable them to remain in the community, rather than enter residential care. Grants can also be paid to homeless people or some families. The grants, which are discretionary, may be applied for if you have been awarded Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance or income-based Employment & Support Allowance and live in the community. 4

Budgeting Loans are interest-free repayable loans and may be applied for if you have been claiming Pension Credit, Income Support, income Based Jobseekers Allowance or income-based Employment & Support Allowance for at least 26 weeks. Crisis Loans, also interest-free and repayable, are intended to meet short term needs arising from a crisis, e.g. a house fire, theft, flooding etc. You do not have to be claiming any benefit in order to apply. To claim contact: Freephone numbers 0800 587 6716 if claiming for living expenses or 0845 608 8763 for all other claims. You must decide if you wish to apply for a Community Care Grant or a Budgeting Loan. advisable to apply for both. Seek advice if you are not successful. It is In addition to the above discretionary payments from the Social Fund, assistance may also be claimed for the following: Cold Weather Payments: automatically paid to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit for each week that is designated one of 'severe weather', providing they are not resident in a care home. This is a period of seven consecutive days during which the average of the mean daily temperature is equal to or below 0 degrees Celsius. Payments are made automatically to those who qualify. These payments of 8.50 per qualifying week are in addition to the annual Winter Fuel payment. Funeral Payments: grant assistance to meet the cost of a simple funeral. You or your partner accept responsibility for arranging the funeral and have been awarded one of the following qualifying benefits in respect of the day you claim a funeral grant: Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, income-based Employment & Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Child Tax Credit paid at a rate which exceeds the family element or Working Tax Credit which includes the disability or severe disability element. You may claim up to 3 months after the funeral. If you are waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit, you should still claim within the time limit and then re-claim within 3 months of being awarded the qualifying benefit. Council Tax Discounts other help you may be entitled to There are a number of discounts that may be applied to your Council Tax Bill, for example, for people who live alone, those who are 'severely mentally impaired' and in receipt of certain benefits, or certain carers. You do not have to be on a low income to qualify for a discount. If you are on a low income, see also above under 'Council Tax Benefit'. Certain discounts should be applied automatically by Scottish Borders Council, but if you think you may qualify and no discount is shown on you Council Tax Bill, seek advice. Blue Badge Scheme This scheme provides parking concessions for people with severe mobility problems. Further details and application forms are available from SBC Customer Services. You can complete an application form over the phone on 01450 364706, visit any council contact Centre or print off an application form from the council website and return the completed form to your nearest Contact Centre. 5

Scotland-wide free bus travel for older and disabled people From 1 April 2006 anyone aged 60 and over, and eligible disabled people, are entitled to free bus travel anywhere in Scotland provided they have applied for, and received, the new National Entitlement Card. How to apply for a National Entitlement Card if you are not an existing travel card holder then you can apply through Scottish Borders Council, SPT Travel Centre or the Post Office. If you are over 60, complete form LS304 available from Scottish Borders Council, SPT Travel Centre or the Post Office. If you are disabled, or seeking a companion entitlement, complete form NCT001 available from Scottish Borders Council Social Work Services You will need to provide a recent passport-type colour photograph and documentary evidence of your age or disability along with proof of your current residency in Scotland. Further details are available from Passenger Transport, Council Headquarter, (telephone 01835 826599) Christmas Bonus This is a tax-free bonus of 10 that is paid in December to people who are in receipt of certain benefits from week beginning Monday 07.12.09. The qualifying benefits include: Retirement Pension, Pension Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carer s Allowance, Widowed Person s Pension, certain Industrial Injuries Benefits, Severe Disablement Allowance, long-term Incapacity Benefit, contribution-based Employment & Support Allowance. If both you and your partner qualify, the 10 bonus will be paid for each of you. Winter Fuel Payments (WFP) This is a tax-free annual lump-sum payment if you are aged 60 or over in the week beginning 14.09.09, of 250 per household intended to help people aged 60-79; 400 for those aged 80 and over, with winter fuel bills. For this year an additional payment of 100 for households with someone aged over 80 and 50 for households with someone aged over 60 will be made. How do you claim? You should automatically receive a payment without making a claim if you received a payment last year and your circumstances have not changed, or you are getting a state pension or other social security benefit (excluding child benefit, housing benefit or council tax benefit) in the qualifying week. Otherwise you must make a claim before 29.03.10. You can get a claim form and other information by ringing the winter fuel payment helpline on 08459 151 515. Central heating and energy issues 6

For information contact the Home Energy Adviser on Tel. 01835 825169, or email: housingenquiries@scotborders.gov.uk Independent Living Fund The Independent Living (1993) Fund (ILF) works in partnership with local authorities to devise joint care packages, which are a combination of services or direct payments from Social Work Services and cash from the ILF. Payments are made 4-weekly in arrears and are normally paid into your bank account. Money from the ILF is wholly ignored when means-tested benefits are being calculated and when Social Work Services assesses your charges for home care services. Who can get help? Awards are discretionary and you have to satisfy the following conditions: Be severely disabled to the extent that extensive help with personal care or household duties is needed to maintain an independent life in the community; and Be at least 16 and under 65 years of age; and Be receiving Disability Living Allowance highest rate care component; and Be receiving (or it is planned that you will receive) services or cash to a value of at least 320 a week from Social Work Services; and Have less than 22,250 savings; and Have care needs that are generally stable and expected to be met by the joint care package for the following 6 months. Note: Due to budget limitations ILF are currently only accepting claims from those working more than 16 hours per week or those in receipt of Income Support, Pension Guarantee Credit, Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) or those whose income is at a similar level. How to apply for help? Contact Grace Smart, Development Officer (ILF) on 01896 848352 or 01896 849802 or by email at Gsmart@scotborders.gsx.gov.uk or your local Social Work office. Scottish Borders Elder Voice Scottish Borders Elder Voice is an organisation for the 50plus run by the 50plus. It works at local level and through Better Government for Older People a non-political organisation, at national and international levels also. It aims to improve the lives of older people by enabling them to contribute to the improvement of services for older people through influencing policy and practice. It promotes the needs, concerns and ideas of the 50plus by encouraging older people themselves to voice their concerns and thus effect change. Scottish Borders Elder Voice, 14 Island Street, Galashiels, TD1 1NU. To contact telephone 01896 756626 Remember, this Fact Sheet has outlined only some of the main benefits to which you may be entitled. If you are in any doubt as to your entitlement, seek advice. 7

The rates of benefit quoted apply from April 2009 and are correct at time of production. If you wish to suggest ways in which this fact sheet may be improved please contact Jane Keir, Tel. 01896 849802 or e-mail jkeir@scotborders.gsx.gov.uk Social Work Services some useful contacts The Welfare Benefits Service can be contacted through any local Social Work office. In the first instance, ask to speak to the duty social worker. 14 Newtown Street DUNS TD11 3AT 01361 883050 Chambers Institute PEEBLES EH45 8AF 01721 722777 Rose Lane KELSO TD5 7AP 01573 223501 5-7 Lothian Street HAWICK TD9 9HD 01450 374545 4 Abbotsford Road GALASHIELS TD1 3DS 01896 755365 Social Work teams are also based in Borders General Hospital 01896 826271 and The Stables, Huntlyburn, MELROSE, TD6 01896 827300 Welfare Benefits Service: East End, EARLSTON, TD4 6HU. 01896 849802 or Email: Wbs@scotborders.gsx.gov.uk Jobcentre Plus offices New Reiver House High Street Galashiels TD1 1TD 01896 612400 Duke Street Hawick TD9 9PY (Galashiels main office) 01450 372916 The Pension Service Pension Credit Application Line 0800 99 1234 Advice on disability benefits can be obtained from the Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00. Information and advice on welfare benefits and related matters is also available from your local Citizens' Advice Bureau. Details of your nearest bureau are in the phone book under "Citizens' Advice Bureau". Other Organisations NB: These organisations cannot take on individual cases. Age Concern Scotland Borders Voluntary Community Care Forum 113 Rose Street 34 Woodmarket Edinburgh KELSO EH2 3DT TD5 7AX 0131 220 3345 01573 226 969 A larger print, translations, BRAILLE and tape versions of this factsheet are available on request. Please contact Welfare Benefits Service, telephone number 01896 849802. L/Wbs/4leaflets/2009 Leaflets/Guide to Social Security Benefits and Other Benefits for Older People 8