Q: I am 64 and since suffering a brain haemorrhage two years ago I need my wife to help me with dressing and bathing. Is there any benefit I could get for this?
A: You look to be a likely candidate for Disability Living Allowance but hurry! The rules for disability benefits become more stringent at 65.
Q: My husband recently died leaving me a State pension of £69.03 a week but no works pension because he was self employed. I have my own house and £5,000 saved. Am I entitled to anything?
A: It depends upon your age. If you are 60 or over you could get Income Support of £1. 40 a week and a full Council Tax Rebate. If younger you could still get a big Council Tax reduction.
Q: My husband's weekly income is Retirement Pensions of £77.36, works pension of £16.31 and Attendance Allowance of £53.55. I get Severe Disablement Allowance of £49.80. We pay full rent and Council Tax. Should we?
A: No. On that income, and if your savings are below £3,000 you would be deemed to afford a weekly basic rent of only £8 and Counci1 Tax of £2.50.
Q: My wife, who is approaching 60, paid full National Insurance for 20 years before giving up to look alter the children in 1977. Will she have to wait until I am 65 in eight years time before she gets a full State Pension?
A: The pension she gets at 60 will depend only upon her personal National Insurance record. Your contributions will only be relevant if her pension is less than the 60 per cent rate. Then that pension will be made up to 60 per cent when you reach 65.
Q: I will be 60 in September 2002 and my husband will be 65 in January 2004. He has a full National Insurance Contribution record but I have not paid enough. The DSS tell me that if I pay voluntary contributions of around £2000, I will get a pension of £26.33 a week at current rates. Is it worth my while paying these?
A: Hardly. You will get a pension of £40.40 at current rate when your husband is 65 even if you pay nothing. The pension on your own contributions you could get in the meantime would be less than the total you would pay to get it
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