If you are a carer of State Pension age, you could be missing out on some of the benefits you can claim if you’re unsure about how underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance works.
There is a common misconception that you cannot claim any Carer’s Allowance once you are of State Pension age. But the truth is, you can. It’s just the process and payment structure is a little different.
Even if you are already receiving benefits; if you meet all the qualifying conditions for Carer’s Allowance, it’s worthwhile making a claim. There is no upper-age limit to apply, so even if you are retired and are State Pension age, you could still receive extra payments if you are providing care and support for someone else.
While you may not receive Carer’s Allowance there are financial benefits associated with an ‘underlying entitlement’ to Carer’s Allowance which many carers and even professionals are unaware of.
An underlying entitlement is where you meet all other qualifying conditions for Carer’s Allowance because of your circumstances of being a carer, except that you are State Pension age. It can act as a passport to other benefits and entitlements, which means that you get an increased amount of any other means-tested benefits you may currently be receiving, or are now entitled to benefits that you couldn’t get before.
To find out more about how an underlying entitlement works, and how you can apply, read our Help and Advice topic on 'Claiming Carers Allowance when you're State Pension age'.
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