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[MSE Wendy]

Updated 1 September 08

What is this all about?

Pension Credit is an entitlement for people aged 60 that guarantees everyone a minimum weekly income.

Until 6 October 2008, as well as getting the extra money each week, if you apply for Pension Credit and are eligible you may also receive a backdated payment of up to 12 months money.

After 6 October 2008 this drops to 3 months backdating so claim now so you don't miss out on this money.

More about Pension Credit

Unfortunately many people do not apply for the benefit as they find it confusing or intrusive, in fact there are thought to be about 1.5 million people that are entitled to the money but are not claiming, so if you, or your friends and family, are over 60 please check to see if you could getting this extra money.

How much could I get?

Pension Credit itself is made up of two parts, Guarantee Credit, the bit that tops up your income to a set amount (anyone 60 and over is entitled to apply for this part) and Savings Credit, extra money for people 65 and over who have some savings.

The rates of Pension Credit you get each week depends on whether you are single or have a partner:

• If you are single your income will be topped up to £119.05, the Guarantee Credit, and a further £19.05 if you can get Savings Credit.

• If you have a partner (and only one of you needs to be be over 60) your income will be topped up to £181.70, the Guarantee Credit, and a further £25.26 if you can get Savings Credit.

For example, a 62 year old single person with an income of £100 a week would get an extra £19.05. That’s nearly £1,000 a year. A 62 year old couple with an income of £150 a week would get £31.70 a week, which is over £1,600 a year.

To work out how much you could get take five minutes to try the Pension Credit Calculator

What are the other benfits of getting Pension Credit?

Some people do not apply for Pension Credit as it only gives them a small amount each week. But as it is a ‘Passport Benefit’ by getting even 1p a week can mean you are entited to other benfits such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit or free services such as a free digital tv box, grants for your home or cold weather payments.

How to apply?

You can apply any time within four months of your 60th birthday, either by phone or by completing a form.

• By phone: Call 0800 99 1234, 8am to 8pm Mon to Fri and 9am to 1pm Sat. Someone will fill in an application form for you over the phone or can call you back at a more convenient time to fill in the form. They will then post the filled-in form to you so you can check it and sign it.
  
  If you apply by phone you can also apply for Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit at the same time, which is money to help pay for your rent or council tax costs.

• By form: You can either print the form, fill in and post, or fill in online, print and post. Get the form

To tell if you can get any money the Pension Service will need to look at your income such as pensions, some other benfits, earnings from a job and any savings you have over £6,000. If you live with your grown up family or own your own home this does not count as income.

What if I don’t claim before 6 October 2008 or am not 60 yet?

If you claim after 6 October 2008 you will only be able to ask for 3 months backdating, instead of the current 12, but there are other changes to the system to make it easier for people to apply.

For example you will only need to make one application to the Pension Service that covers Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and your information will be automatically sent to your local authority without you having to send off any forms.

Futher info: Five Minute Benefits Checkup

If you would like more information on benefits, advice for older people and help with filling in forms contact your local Age Concern.

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[BigMummaF]

My mum is of the 'old school' & seems to think she will not be entitled to anything But I shall definately be looking into this for her...Thank You for the heads-up

[Biggles]

The header should, of course, really read, "Consider applying for Pension Credit now", as many people don't qualify due to income and/or savings.

But very many people don't realise that Pension Credit, unlike most other means-tested benefits, does reward you for having made some provision for your retirement and does not disqualify you because you have a small occupational pension or a reaonable amount of savings.

I always found these charts very useful to give examples of how likely you may be to succeed with a claim:-

Chart for single people aged 60 to 64




Chart for couples aged 60 to 64




Chart for single people aged 65 and over



Chart for couples aged 65 and over



http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/...nce-charts.asp

[edda]

Great charts Biggles.
I presume they apply to this tax year.

Where did you get them from and how often are they updated?

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by edda

Where did you get them from and how often are they updated?

From the link I posted below the charts ;-)

[seven-day-weekend]

We are noit yet that age but will not qualify due to the means test.

I always assumed that for those who DID qualify it got done automatically - I didn't realise they had to claim.

So, we all need to make sure that there is not some elderly person in our families who may qualify for it but doesn't realise.

[CitizenBidet]

Silly question but
Do you have to be retired and or receiving a pension
Or can anyone over 60 depending on their earnings get pension credit?
bit confused ..

[pacemaker]

When I applied for my Pension which started in August I was told that I would get Pension credit plus carers allowance as I look after a severely disabled person. I said Great then asked about getting my Pension when going to live in France.That was no problem! but!!! you can't get Pension credit or Carers Allowance! So we live on a very reduced income and have to watch every penny. Surely if I have worked all my life and still pay tax in the UK, I should be able to claim Pension Credits. I cannot nor feel right about the French Gov't having to support me. What do others think? PS I have been working since the age of 15 years.

[Daimlerman]

I work for the Pension Service, but DWP never seem to make it well known, that if requested, people like me will go and help pensioners to claim Pension Credit, or any other over 60's benefits, in their own home. The pensioner just has to ask for visit from the Local Service when they phone up. We can then verify all of their documents without fear of them being lost in the Pension Centres.

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by CitizenBidet

Silly question but
Do you have to be retired and or receiving a pension
Or can anyone over 60 depending on their earnings get pension credit?
bit confused ..

The latter.

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/...redit/home.asp

Follow that through, there is even a calculator to help you work out whether you might qualify.

[bigbill]

If you know the benefit system this chart may give some help.

http://www.welfarerights.net/guides/pension.doc

[seven-day-weekend]

Originally Posted by pacemaker

When I applied for my Pension which started in August I was told that I would get Pension credit plus carers allowance as I look after a severely disabled person. I said Great then asked about getting my Pension when going to live in France.That was no problem! but!!! you can't get Pension credit or Carers Allowance! So we live on a very reduced income and have to watch every penny. Surely if I have worked all my life and still pay tax in the UK, I should be able to claim Pension Credits. I cannot nor feel right about the French Gov't having to support me. What do others think? PS I have been working since the age of 15 years.

We live in Spain and although we have a few years to go before we get our State Pensions, the same thing would apply here (although we would not qualify for Pension Credit anyway because of the means test).

I think it's fair enough really. We can receive our State Pensions and certain contributory benefits such as Incapacity Benefit, but pension credits and careres' allowance are non-contributory and therefore depend on other qualifiers such as residency.

I don't think it's right that the French Government should have to support you either. The Spanish Governmemt wouldn't.

My husband has worked from 15-55 and still pays tax in the UK. I started work at 16.

[icannotbelieveit]

Thanks to everyone on this thread. I have just done a quick reccie on the links and I have a question...How do the powers-that-be come up with the calculation: ' for every £500 of savings over £6000 you will have £1 of income.'(that's per week). I calculate a very high interest rate even if all your monies are in high interest accounts. Can anyone tell me where I can put my money in these accounts then I wouldn't need pension credit? Is this before or after tax?

[roddydogs]

Yup, if youve been reckless, not saved for your old age,not taken out a private pension spent it all on fags/beer, or if youve not been in the country long enough to qualify for a full state pension, etc, etc, dont worry apply for pension credit, paid for by all the people who have not been !!!!less.

[JeffMinter]

I take it my self employed father (who has a barely profitable business but with high turnover) isn't eligible then? Nor my mother, who has been a housewife for 30+ years and hence has no NI contributions made?

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by JeffMinter

I take it my self employed father (who has a barely profitable business but with high turnover) isn't eligible then? Nor my mother, who has been a housewife for 30+ years and hence has no NI contributions made?

It will depend on his income (ie the profits, not the turnover).

[JeffMinter]

Less than £10k. Considering the annual turnover is 20x that, it's rather pathetic really. The property itself is worth something, that counts against him right?


And my mum, absolutely nothing for her?

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by JeffMinter

Less than £10k. Considering the annual turnover is 20x that, it's rather pathetic really. The property itself is worth something, that counts against him right?

And my mum, absolutely nothing for her?

The property doesn't count against him. Try the calculator (see post #10), that builds in all the possibilities.

[getting-sorted-sarah]

Originally Posted by CitizenBidet

Silly question but
Do you have to be retired and or receiving a pension
Or can anyone over 60 depending on their earnings get pension credit?
bit confused ..

Based on income, you don't have to be retired, just over 60.
Help to apply from many branches of Age Concern.

[getting-sorted-sarah]

Originally Posted by JeffMinter

I take it my self employed father (who has a barely profitable business but with high turnover) isn't eligible then? Nor my mother, who has been a housewife for 30+ years and hence has no NI contributions made?

Your parents could apply as a couple and their earnt money taken into consideration - ie what salary your father pays himself.
BTW, if your mother was on her own she would qualify, with no NI contributions. PC is designed to support those without means for whatever reasons.