Pension credit

Hi Jeff

The short answer is yes unless your partner is in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

Let me try and explain the process:

There are two sets of requirements for the Severe Disability Premium.

First, to be eligible for the Premium, you need to be receiving a qualifying benefit such as the PIP Daily award that you received (there are others) you lived alone or were considered to be living alone and no one receives Carers Allowance against your PIP award or as a couple you can qualify if both you and your partner get a qualifying benefit (PIP daily living).

Secondly, to be entitled to payment of the Premium you need to be receiving an Income Related benefit such as ESA(IR), Income Support or Pension Credit but not Universal Credit.

If you receive the New State Pension as a single person you should receive £179.60 pw depending on your NI contributions. Guarantee Pension Credit (GPC) as a single person is £177.10 pw. If your State Pension is higher than GPC then you will not be eligible to claim any GPC.

If you receive a qualifying benefit such as the daily living component of PIP or Attendance Allowance or middle rate DLA care or higher and live alone and no one claims Carers Allowance then you will be eligible to claim a Severe Disability Premium (SDP) worth £67.30 pw, this is added to the basic GPC £177.10 giving a total of £244.40pw. As GPC figure is now higher than your SP you will receive the difference along with your SP i.e £244.40 - £179.60 = £64.80 pw GPC.

If your partner is not in receipt of a qualifying benefit then you will loose your SDP which in turn means that you will loose your GPC.

Gary