Mixed age couple and pension credit

Couple - husband 76, wife 63
Claimed pension credit as a couple some time ago.
He is in receipt of AA higher rate and technically she is caring for him and would meet eligibility for claiming CA.
However, they have been informed that because the rules have changed re: pension credit and claiming as a mixed age couple (she is under SPA)that if she now claims CA then they would need to claim UC.

I would have thought that if she claims CA they would update their existing claim for PC to reflect this income…
Grateful for any thoughts

No that is not correct.  It is possible that the net reduction in SPC (difference between CA and carer premium) would be enough to knock them off Pension Credit if they are close to the limit, but then:

- if they have renter’s housing costs, floating off SPC would not automatically terminate their HB
- if they do not have renter’s housing costs, and they no longer qualify for SPC, there is absolutely no point whatsoever claiming UC.  They are simply not means tested benefit claimants any longer

Unless they have children (I’m assuming not).

This looks like someone coming down with a case of the “triggers” again - a very common affliction in DWP and LA circles.

Thank you for such a rapid reply.
So, according to ‘entitledto’ calculator they would not be ‘knocked off’ pension credit - clearly this would be reduced.
This would be more than offset by the CA so they would overall be better off.
Just wanted to make sure that there is no hidden catch!
Thanks again

Can I ask, was this DWP telling them that claiming CA would end the PC award?

We’re hearing about some worrying similar trends from our advisers.