The Department for Work and Pensions provides a weekly top-up payment of £48.15 to eligible state pensioners who care for another adult. This payment is separate from the standard state pension and is part of the Guarantee Pension Credit scheme.
Calculating the amount of Guarantee Pension Credit can be complex. The payment depends on your weekly income, which includes your state pension, other pensions, earnings from work or self-employment, and most social security benefits. If you live with a partner, their income is also included. The government sets a threshold of £238.00 per week for single individuals and £363.25 per week for couples.
The final payment varies based on individual circumstances, with additional sums available for carers or people with disabilities. For instance, those with severe disabilities receiving Attendance Allowance, Pension Age Disability Payment, or certain rates of Disability Living Allowance or equivalent Scottish benefits may receive an extra £86.05 weekly.
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Similarly, recipients of the standard or enhanced daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), or Armed Forces Independence Payment are eligible for an additional £86.05 per week.
Carers receiving Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Support Payment, or those who have claimed Carer’s Allowance but do not receive payment due to higher benefits, qualify for the extra £48.15 weekly. Both partners can receive this amount if both qualify for Carer’s Allowance.
Additionally, those responsible for children or young people can receive an extra £69.98 per week for each child, increasing to £81.07 for the first child born before 6 April 2017. The child or young person must generally live with the claimant and be under 20 years old, with those aged 16 to 19 needing to be in approved training or non-advanced education.