1. Future East Health & Wellbeing & Living at Home Benefits Entitlement for Older People 2nd October Dave Winterton DWP Partnership Manager Cambridgeshire

2. Welcome Objectives of the day To deliver an overview of the following:
State Pension (including deferral option)
Pension Credit
Personal Independence Payment
Attendance Allowance

3. State Pension - Overview
The new State Pension was:
Introduced on 6 April 2016
Applies only to those people reaching SP age on or after that date
Replaces the basic SP and additional SP
Brings an end to contracting out
Means an end to Pension Credit Savings Credit for those retiring on or after 6 April 2016

4. State Pension - Overview
You can claim the new State Pension if you’re:
a man born on or after 6 April 1951
a woman born on or after 6 April 1953
The earliest you can get the new State Pension is when you reach State Pension age State Pension age.

5. State Pension Deferral - Overview
Once you are 4 months away from State Pension age, you can either claim your State Pension or defer (delay) claiming it.
Deferring your State Pension could increase the amount you get when you decide to claim it
Do nothing if you wish to defer. Your pension will be automatically deferred until you claim it
The amount of extra State Pension you get depends on when you reach State Pension age State Pension age.

6. State Pension Deferral - Overview
If you reached State Pension age after 6 April 2016
Your State Pension increases by 1% for every 9 weeks you defer. This amounts to just under 5.8% for every full year
If you are already getting your State Pension
You can choose to stop getting it for a while and build up extra pension amounting up to 10.4% for every full year or take a one-off taxable lump sum
The date you choose cannot be in the past or more than 4 weeks in the future
You can only defer once
For further information see

7. Pension Credit (PC) - Overview
Pension Credit is a means tested benefit for older people that tops up your existing income to a guaranteed level prescribed by Parliament. This is currently £ for a single person and £ for a couple.
Paid to men who have reached the qualifying age and women who have reached State Pension age.
You can use the State Pension Age calculator on to find out from what age you qualify for PC
You must be resident in the UK.
Those from overseas who have recently arrived in the UK have to meet certain residency conditions to qualify

8. Pension Credit (PC) - Overview
There are two types of PC. You may be able to get either or both depending on your circumstances
The two types of PC are:
Guarantee Credit which tops up your existing income to a fixed weekly amount called the “appropriate minimum guarantee”
Savings Credit which provides an additional sum in certain circumstances depending on the level of your income and savings
To claim PC you (or your representative) need to telephone the Pension Credit claims line on The line is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 6:00pm

9. Pension Credit (PC) What are the qualifying conditions?
Your income must be below the prescribed appropriate minimum guarantee
Savings of less than £10,000 are ignored
Savings above £10,000 are treated as if they add £1.00 a week to your income for every extra £500 (or part of £500) of savings
You can also get help with housing costs such as mortgage interest, rent and some service charges under certain circumstances
You may contact the Pension Credit claims line who will be able to give you guidance on whether you may qualify for PC prior to making a claim

10. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - Overview
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a disability benefit which has replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for new claims from adults aged 16-64
DLA remains for children up to age 16; and DLA recipients aged 65 or over on 8 April 2013
PIP helps towards some of extra costs arising from health condition or disability
PIP based on how person’s condition affects them, not condition itself
The same as DLA, claimants can get PIP whether in or out of work
Not means tested or taxed

11. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – Overview
PIP is made up of two components – daily living and mobility
Each can be paid at standard rate, or enhanced rate for those with the greatest needs
The PIP assessment criteria consider the individuals’ ability to carry out a range of everyday activities
Individuals receive a point score for each activity, depending on how well they can carry them out and the help they need to do them
The total scores for each component determine whether a component is payable, and if so, whether at the standard or enhanced rate
Enhanced
Standard
Daily Living
Mobility
8 points
12 points
Not Entitled

12. Assessment Criteria Daily living component (activities 1-10)
Mobility component (activities 11-12)
Standard rate = 8 points
Enhanced rate = 12 points
Activity
Possible points
1. Preparing food
0-8
11. Planning and following journeys
0-12
2. Taking nutrition
0-10
12. Moving around
3. Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
4. Washing and bathing
5. Managing toilet needs or incontinence
6. Dressing and undressing
7. Communicating verbally
8. Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
9. Engaging with other people face-to-face
10. Making budgeting decisions
0-6

13. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – Overview
The PIP assessment involves health professionals who consider the evidence provided by the claimant, along with any further evidence they think is needed
The health professionals are employed by independent providers
People are assessed as individuals, and the focus is on the impact their condition has on their daily lives and over a range of different activities

14. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – Overview
Most people are asked to a face-to-face consultation with a health professional as part of the assessment process - claimants are encouraged to take somebody with them to the consultation
Home visits are available when necessary
Face-to-face consultations may not be necessary for everyone – for example, those who are terminally ill may not have to have them
The assessment provider sends a report back to the DWP Decision Maker to make a decision

15. PIP new claim process
New claims line: callers claiming under special rules for terminally ill people will be routed to a dedicated team to complete the claim
(textphone: )
PIP enquiries: (textphone: ).
Claimants sent ‘How your disability affects you’ form – return with supporting evidence already held

16. Motability, Blue Badge, Concessionary travel and Vehicle Excise Duty
If a claimant gets the enhanced rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment, they may be able to use all or part of their allowance to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair from the Motability scheme
If a claimant gets the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment they might be able to claim for a Blue Badge
They may also be able to claim a pass to travel for free on public transport
If the claimant gets the enhanced rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment they won’t have to pay car tax
If the claimant gets the standard rate of the mobility part of Personal Independence Payment they will only have to pay half the price of a car tax disc

17. Where to find more information
Information for support organisations and advisers is online at The site includes a quick guide to PIP for advisers, an overview of the claimant journey and frequently asked questions
We also include the latest news in the monthly Touchbase bulletin – sign up at the DWP website
Information aimed at claimants is available on Please signpost to these pages from your own sites or materials
Updated leaflets are also available – generic information in existing leaflets, and PIP specific leaflet

18. Attendance Allowance - Overview
Attendance Allowance helps people who are severely disabled by a physical, mental or sensory condition
It is not taxable, not means tested and is non-contributory
You must be over 65 years of age at the date of claim
Normally have needed help for at least six months
Have a right to remain in Great Britain and claim benefit
Be resident at the date of claim and have been present in GB for 104 weeks out of the last 156

19. Attendance Allowance - Overview
It is not a medical condition that gives rise to an award of Attendance Allowance but the help needed arising from that disability
It is the help needed rather than the help actually received that is considered for Attendance Allowance
There are two rates of Attendance Allowance:
A higher rate if a person satisfies both the day and night conditions
A lower rate if a person satisfies either the day condition or the night condition

20. Attendance Allowance - Overview
The day condition is satisfied if a person is so severely disabled they need frequent attention throughout the day with bodily functions and need continual supervision throughout the day in order to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others.
“Frequent” means several times and must be needed throughout the day
The night condition is satisfied if a person is so severely disabled they need either:
Prolonged or repeated attention in connection with bodily functions or someone to be awake at frequent intervals to watch over them to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others

21. Attendance Allowance – Special Rules
Applies to customers who are terminally ill whose life expectancy is likely to be six months or less
The customer must live in GB but does not have to have been in GB for 26 out of the last 52 weeks
The customer does not have to satisfy the six month qualifying period
Special Rules cases are fast tracked and are dealt with by specialist Decision Makers to ensure claims are processed as quickly as possible

22. Questions?