Benefit Entitlement
What benefits are available to you?
There are a number of benefits available to help people pay for care support. When considering your best options for funding care, the first stage is to ensure that all state benefit entitlements are explored.
Below, we consider the main benefits – but it is important to stress that, depending on an individual’s circumstances and needs, there may be other benefits
to which you or your loved one could be entitled to.
Pension Credits are a benefit for those over 65.
Pension Credits are split into two parts – Guarantee Credit, and Saving Credit. Depending on your situation, you may be entitled to additional funds – for example, if you’re living with a severe disability, or are responsible for looking after a child. Here is an outline of what each types of credit involves:
Guarantee Credit
This provides a guaranteed minimum level of income by topping up your weekly pension if it’s below a particular threshold, which changes if you’re single or a couple. This amount may rise based on individual circumstances – for example, if you have a disability.
Savings Credit
This is an extra payment for those who have made some provision for their retirement – for example savings / investments, or a second pension. The level of benefit for savings credit changes depending on whether you live alone or with a partner.