Commentary on Sections Part 3: Other benefit changes Section 74: State pension credit: carers
354.Section 74 amends SPCA 2002 to change the entitlement conditions for the additional amount of the guarantee credit in respect of caring responsibilities, to remove the explicit link to carer’s allowance in that Act.
355.Currently a claimant is entitled to the additional amount if the claimant or their partner is entitled to carer’s allowance. Subsection (2) amends section 2(8) of SPCA 2002 so that a claimant is entitled to the additional amount if they or their partner have regular and substantial caring responsibilities. Subsection (3) amends section 17 of the SPCA 2002 to provide that the Secretary of State will prescribe what is meant by regular and substantial caring responsibilities in regulations. The intention is that this definition will cover, but not be limited to, people entitled to carer’s allowance.