Non means tested benefit?

vigman · 3 September 2017 at 3:51PM

I retired from work due to ill health. I was 58 and my employer agreed to pay my final salary scheme pension from then as if I had worked until 65. This was mainly to avoid legal action on my part.

Having been assessed by medical specialists as not fit to work again full time my pension and lump sum were agreed by employer and tax office.

I am 64 now and the pension salary is small. I have been supplementing it by dividing the lump sum and paying that to myself over the years.

I have got ISA savings and so could not qualify for any means tested benefits.

Out of interest is there any benefit I could claim during this last year up to my state pension that is not means tested please?

This posting came about because I was expecting the winter fuel payment but see I have missed it yet again by days ( even though my 66 year old brother has had it for years?!)

TIA

Vigman

Sncjw · 3 September 2017 at 4:26PM

Will your state pension be more than your private. If it's not how are you going to manage if you can't manage at the moment with the pension

Mojisola · 3 September 2017 at 4:39PM

vigman wrote: »

I retired from work due to ill health.

Out of interest is there any benefit I could claim during this last year up to my state pension that is not means tested please?

Hasn't anyone suggested PIP to you?

WillowCat · 3 September 2017 at 7:28PM

Sncjw wrote: »

Will your state pension be more than your private. If it's not how are you going to manage if you can't manage at the moment with the pension

His private pension won't be lost when he gets his state pension. He will get both. There are some schemes which pay a greater amount before state pension age, and then lower it when state pension is in payment, but these are unusual and the OP doesn't suggest that this is the type he gets.

OP you are out of time to claim contributions based ESA, and in any case it may be that your pension payment is too high for you to have received any (they take into acount half the pension over £85 per week).

The only benefit I can think of, is as stated above, PIP. This is designed to help you with extra expenses because of medical conditions/disability.

Darksparkle · 3 September 2017 at 7:58PM

Couldn't you use your savings to keep you going?

vigman · 6 September 2017 at 9:36AM

Thanks everyone and apologies for delay in replying (due to ill health!)

I have conditions that flare up and therefore it is difficult to claim PIP. I might reconsider making a claim though. A family member who works was turned down for similar reasons

I will have to start living on my savings and both my wife and I have moved to instant access ISAs. She is a summer 1954 birthday and won't even get her pension until she is more than 65 in three years time.

I wish I could risk savings in higher interest paying accounts but I don't have the safety net of losing any money.

Vigman

Non means tested benefit?

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free