Welfare Rights Training 2009

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 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 £89.80 and Low rate Care at £18.65, he claims HB & CT Benefit paying no Rent, he has savings at £12,400. Benefit check requested. He is 62, has Incapacity Benefit at £89.80 and Low rate Care at £18.65, he claims HB & CT Benefit paying no Rent, he has savings at £12,400. 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 £27.20 weekly (£ £ = £27.20 PC due) Arrears 13 x £27.20 = £ (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 (£47.10) and the other has Attendance Both over 65, one has DLA at Middle Rate Care (£47.10) and the other has Attendance Allowance (£70.35). Allowance (£70.35). 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 £9.43 weekly and Council £2.90 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 Add full Savings Credit HB/CTB £27.03 Add full Savings Credit HB/CTB £27.03 (This is a HB CTB figure only) (225.50) (This is a HB CTB figure only) (225.50) Rent x 65% CT x 20% Excess Income Rent x 65% CT x 20% Excess Income Council Tax paid now £2.90 Rent paid now £9.43 Council Tax paid now £2.90 Rent paid now £9.43 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 £27.03 £27.03 Rent paid now Pension Credit Due £ £ Council Tax paid now (£ £240 = £123.15) (£ £240 = £123.15)

Claims? Carers Allowance £53.10 x 2 (Underlying only) backdated three months Carers Allowance £53.10 x 2 (Underlying only) backdated three months Pension Credit GT £ weekly Backdated 13 £1, Pension Credit GT £ weekly Backdated 13 £1, Pension Savings Credit £27.03 Backdated 13 £ Pension Savings Credit £27.03 Backdated 13 £ Housing Benefit £9.43 weekly Backdated 13 £ Housing Benefit £9.43 weekly Backdated 13 £ Council Tax £2.90 weekly Backdated 13 £37.70 Council Tax £2.90 weekly Backdated 13 £37.70 £ weekly increase in income (PC/GT £123.15, PC/SC £27.03, Rent / HB £9.43, Council Tax £2.90) £ weekly increase in income (PC/GT £123.15, PC/SC £27.03, Rent / HB £9.43, Council Tax £2.90) Arrears £2, (PC/GT £1,600.15, PC/SC £351.39, HB £122.59, CT £37.70) Arrears £2, (PC/GT £1,600.15, PC/SC £351.39, HB £122.59, CT £37.70)

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 (£29.50) 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

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 an award that lasts for 5 years. This is known as the Assessed Income Period (AIP). During this period annual adjustments will be made automatically for increases in your state and private pensions but you do not need to report changes such as increases in your savings or pension income. If your income goes down you will be able to ask for your benefit to be reassessed. You also need to report certain changes such as if you move home, marry, are widowed, your earnings change or you go into hospital. If you are over the age of 65 you may be given an award that lasts for 5 years. This is known as the Assessed Income Period (AIP). During this period annual adjustments will be made automatically for increases in your state and private pensions but you do not need to report changes such as increases in your savings or pension income. If your income goes down you will be able to ask for your benefit to be reassessed. You also need to report certain changes such as if you move home, marry, are widowed, your earnings change or you go into hospital.

Single: Aged 74 has Pension Credit Guarantee at £72.95 weekly and her basic Retirement Pension at £57.05 weekly giving a weekly total income of £ Aged 74 has Pension Credit Guarantee at £72.95 weekly and her basic Retirement Pension at £57.05 weekly giving a weekly total income of £

She owns her own house with no mortgage She has an AIP lasting until 2013 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?