Welfare Rights Training 2010

INCOME MAXIMISATION What’s this all about? The ability to listen, fact find, and notice that something is missing, advise accordingly, helping to identify further claims due. The ability to listen, fact find, and notice that something is missing, advise accordingly, helping to identify further claims due. Thus increasing the weekly income of any client. Thus increasing the weekly income of any client.

How do you do this? INCOME MAXIMISATION

Interview and listen carefully

Think ahead

Write down the facts / information given

Check this information again at the end

Calculate using the above information

Submit and backdate any and all claims identified at this stage

Identify any possible new claims

Re-calculate again as if these new claims where awarded / paid

Submit any and all claims that would become payable if / when these new claims are paid / awarded

Clearly explain to the client what will or will not happen If your unsure call your Help-Line on

The following are real cases He is 62, has Incapacity Benefit at £91.40 and Low rate Care at £18.95, he claims HB & CT Benefit paying no Rent, he has savings at £15,400. Benefit check requested. He is 62, has Incapacity Benefit at £91.40 and Low rate Care at £18.95, he claims HB & CT Benefit paying no Rent, he has savings at £15,400. Benefit check requested. Interview, think ahead, write down, and check again, all done.

CALCULATE (Ignore DLA) Income now £ Applicable amount £ Incapacity Benefit Tariff on Savings Pensioner Single Total Total ANY CLAIMS? NEW CLAIMS?

RE-CALCULATE (Ignore DLA) Income now £ Applicable amount £ Incapacity Benefit Pensioner Single Tariff on savings Pension Credit Total Total

Claims: Pension Credit due £30.20 weekly (£ £ = £30.20 PC due) Arrears 13 x £30.20 = £ (27/10/08 limited backdating to three months)

This man had been claiming HB & CTB for over two years when we advised him to claim and backdate a Pension Credit claim, all the above information had been given to HB & CTB many times on previous occasions. This failure lost him thousands

Couple: Both over 65, one has DLA at Middle Rate Care (£47.80) and the other has Attendance Both over 65, one has DLA at Middle Rate Care (£47.80) and the other has Attendance Allowance (£71.40). Allowance (£71.40). The AA has only recently been awarded The AA has only recently been awarded

Other incomes? Both have Retirement Pensions at £150 & £90. They pay £6.83 weekly and Council £2.10 weekly. They live alone Interview, think ahead, write down, and Check again, all done ?

Income now £ Applicable amount (Before AA) £ Income now £ Applicable amount (Before AA) £ Retirement Pension 150 Pensioner Couple Retirement Pension 150 Pensioner Couple Retirement Pension 90 Retirement Pension 90 Total 240 Total Total 240 Total Over 65 So Add full Savings Credit To HB/CTB Over 65 So Add full Savings Credit To HB/CTB (This is a HB CTB figure only) (229.50) (This is a HB CTB figure only) (229.50) Rent x 65% CT x 20% Excess Income Rent x 65% CT x 20% Excess Income Council Tax paid now £2.10 Rent paid now £6.83 Council Tax paid now £2.10 Rent paid now £6.83 CALCULATE (Ignore DLA & AA)

ANY CLAIMS? NEW CLAIMS?

Claim: Carers Allowance x 2 Pension Credit Backdated three months

RE-CALCULATE (Ignore DLA & AA)

Income now £ Applicable amount £ Retirement Pension 150 Pensioner Couple Retirement Pension Severe Disability Prem x Carer Premium Carer Premium Total Savings Credit Due in £27.10 £27.10 Rent paid now Pension Credit Due £ £ Council Tax paid now (£ £240 = £129.80) (£ £240 = £129.80)

Claims? Carers Allowance £53.90 x 2 (Underlying only) backdated three months Carers Allowance £53.90 x 2 (Underlying only) backdated three months Pension Credit GT £ weekly Backdated 13 £1, Pension Credit GT £ weekly Backdated 13 £1, Pension Savings Credit £27.10 Backdated 13 £ Pension Savings Credit £27.10 Backdated 13 £ Housing Benefit £6.83 weekly Backdated 13 £88.79 Housing Benefit £6.83 weekly Backdated 13 £88.79 Council Tax £2.10 weekly Backdated 13 £27.30 Council Tax £2.10 weekly Backdated 13 £27.30 £ weekly increase in income (PC/GT £129.80, PC/SC £27.10, Rent / HB £6.83, Council Tax £2.10) £ weekly increase in income (PC/GT £129.80, PC/SC £27.10, Rent / HB £6.83, Council Tax £2.10) Arrears £2, (PC/GT £1,687.40, PC/SC £352.30, HB £88.79, CT £27.30) Arrears £2, (PC/GT £1,687.40, PC/SC £352.30, HB £88.79, CT £27.30)

Carers Allowance will be awarded but not be PAID, due to the Retirement Pensions of a higher value, however underlying entitlement will give the Carer/s Premiums x 2 (£30.05) within their applicable amount so additional PC will be due Rent & Council Tax will be nil due to PC/GT Due to backdating Pension Credit client will get a refund of any Rent & Council Tax already paid for that time. SDP X 2 WILL STILL BE PAID AS UNDERLYING CARERS DOES NOT STOP IT

Couple under 40: She has DLA at Middle Rate Care and Work Related Employment Support Allowance at £91.40 weekly. He partner is off work sick and has Statutory Sick Pay from work at £79.15 weekly. She claims HB & CTB and they now pay rent at £14.20 and Council Tax at £4.37 both weekly.

Income now £ Applicable amount £ Employment Support Couple ESA Work Related Statutory Sick Pay SSP Disregard Total Total Excess Income £21.85 (£ £ = £21.85) Rent x 65% = £14.20 Council Tax x 20% + £4.37 Any claims? Income now £ Applicable amount £ Employment Support Couple ESA Work Related Statutory Sick Pay SSP Disregard Total Total Excess Income £21.85 (£ £ = £21.85) Rent x 65% = £14.20 Council Tax x 20% + £4.37 Any claims?

Can he claim Carers Allowance while on Statutory Sick Pay?

Income now £ Applicable amount £ Employment Support Couple ESA Work Related Statutory Sick Pay SSP Disregard Carers Allowance Carer Premium Total Total Excess Income £45.70 (£ £ = £45.70) Rent x 65% = £29.70 Council Tax x 20% = £9.14 Any claims? Income now £ Applicable amount £ Employment Support Couple ESA Work Related Statutory Sick Pay SSP Disregard Carers Allowance Carer Premium Total Total Excess Income £45.70 (£ £ = £45.70) Rent x 65% = £29.70 Council Tax x 20% = £9.14 Any claims?

Swap the Housing Benefit claimants?

Income now £ Applicable amount £ Employment Support Couple Statutory Sick Pay SSP Disregard Carers Allowance Carer Premium Disability Premium Total Total Excess Income £31.80 (£ £ = £31.80) Rent x 65% = £20.67 Council Tax x 20% = £6.36 Income now £ Applicable amount £ Employment Support Couple Statutory Sick Pay SSP Disregard Carers Allowance Carer Premium Disability Premium Total Total Excess Income £31.80 (£ £ = £31.80) Rent x 65% = £20.67 Council Tax x 20% = £6.36

Julie is 47 and asks for your help to increase her DLA Care Component which is paid at the low rate, her condition has got a lot worse over the last year and she feels she is now due at least middle rate care component

Her other income at this time is Incapacity Benefit at £ she pays a small amount of rent and council tax, she get a 25% single persons council tax discount for living alone as well, she has no savings.

Income now £ Applicable amount £ Incapacity Benefit Single Person Disability Premium Total Total Excess Income £12.95 (£ £93.45 = £12.95) Rent x 65% = £8.40 Council Tax x 20% + £2.58 Any claims? Income now £ Applicable amount £ Incapacity Benefit Single Person Disability Premium Total Total Excess Income £12.95 (£ £93.45 = £12.95) Rent x 65% = £8.40 Council Tax x 20% + £2.58 Any claims?

If middle care awarded? Income Now Applicable Amount Incapacity Single Disability Premium Severe Disability Total £ £ Income Support due? £40.70 weekly Rent saved £8.40 Council Tax saved £2.58 If middle care awarded? Income Now Applicable Amount Incapacity Single Disability Premium Severe Disability Total £ £ Income Support due? £40.70 weekly Rent saved £8.40 Council Tax saved £2.58

Asset rich cash poor Remember the following paragraph from earlier? Remember the following paragraph from earlier? “The assessed income period and change of circumstances” “The assessed income period and change of circumstances” If you are over the age of 65 you may be given a Pension Credit award that lasts for 5 years or longer. If you are over the age of 65 you may be given a Pension Credit award that lasts for 5 years or longer. This is known as the Assessed Income Period (AIP). This is known as the Assessed Income Period (AIP).

Single: Aged 74 has Pension Credit Guarantee at £75.55 weekly and her basic Retirement Pension at £57.05 weekly giving a weekly total income of £ Aged 74 has Pension Credit Guarantee at £75.55 weekly and her basic Retirement Pension at £57.05 weekly giving a weekly total income of £132.60

She owns her own house with no mortgage She has an AIP lasting until 2015 She feels the house is too big for her and has been finding the stairs difficult She has recently been allocated a rented sheltered property by the Council / Housing Association She pays no Rent or Council Tax as the old house is up for sale (Value is ignored while up for sale for 6 months or longer) Housing Benefit pays her rent in £55 weekly direct to the Council / Housing Association Council Tax Benefit pays her Council Tax due at £16 weekly She has since sold her old house for £166,000

How will having this new capital affect her On Going Pension Credit Guarantee claim? How will £166,000 in savings affect her Housing Benefit & Council Tax Benefit claims?

END Questions and Answers?