The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been asked to “make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a benefit” for people over the age of retirement who are caring for relatives and do not qualify for Carer's Allowance. A retiree cannot be awarded full State Pension and Carer’s Allowance at the same time, however, DWP said an older claimant could still be eligible for Housing Benefit.
In a written response to Labour MP, Rosie Duffield, DWP Minister for Disabled People, Tom Pursglove MP, explained how Carer’s Allowance “aims to provide a measure of financial support and recognition for people who give up the opportunity of full-time employment, in order to provide regular and substantial care for a severely disabled person”.
He continued: “For those over the age of retirement, the State Pension is intended to replace income when work ceases. It has been a long-held feature of the UK’s benefit system under successive governments that, where someone is entitled to two benefits for the same contingency, then whilst there may be entitlement to both benefits, only one will be paid to prevent duplicate financial provision for the same need.”
