Any advice regarding this letter mum received

tobeloy

My mum receives pension credit and state pension since she retired 3 years ago,

She received this letter on 15th Sep. on what looks like official headed Pension credit paper showing her Nat ins no and correct address details



Dear Mrs *********


About your Pension Credit.


We want to make sure you are getting the right amount of pension credit, to do this we will contact you in the next 14 days toconfirm some details. If we cannot contact you by telephone we will send you another letter. Please note there is no need for you to contact us.

To remind you of details we currently hold we have included the sheet how your pension credit has been worked out.

When we contact you we will be asking for some details including :

Savings
Housing Costs
Personal or work related pensions
Any other income

Please have these details to hand when we call you.

Yours sincerely


Manager


Now this was sent over 2 weeks ago, there has been no phone call and no follow up letter, what concerned mum was that it said not to call so she thinks it may be a hoax and someone may be phishing for info to steal her i.d.

I have told her not to worry.

What would you do, should we ring even though it says not to on the letter, has anyones parents on here had one of these letters, it seems strange no one has been in touch??

Any advice appreciated Thanks

hippy-chicy

Personally i'd phone the pensions service. That way you know for definate either way.

stazi

The letter looks like it's a routine benefit review, and unlikely to be a 'phishing' letter, especially if there was a PC calculation sheet enclosed with the letter.

tobeloy

Yes there was a calculation sheet with it, thats what makes me think its genuine, as for ringing them it says not too but I may do on Monday if no more correspondance has arrived and she has not had a phone call.

Thanks ppl;)

bryanb

I never give any details to anyone who phones me, not even if they write first. Why not phone them, It doesn't say don't it said no need.

seven-day-weekend

Or she could write to the Pensions Service enclosing a copy of her letter.

anmarj

they will not do reviews over the phone, unfortuntley it is a standard letter that is sent out, a PC2 review form should appear but if it is like our center then they are behind, she can always call and ask for one to be sent and then complete it and send it back.

tobeloy

anmarj wrote: »

they will not do reviews over the phone, unfortuntley it is a standard letter that is sent out, a PC2 review form should appear but if it is like our center then they are behind, she can always call and ask for one to be sent and then complete it and send it back.

I take it you work within the dept, thankyou I will pass this info on to her and if she has not heard nothing within a week we will contact them, I oresume the postal strikes in certain areas does not help matters

Mojisola

My father had one of these about this time last year. He was worried because I deal with all his official stuff and he didn't want to talk to anyone on the phone. However, no-one ever phoned and he didn't get a follow-up letter either.

cunningfox_2

I am pretty sure they would be doing reviews over the phone - most places are now.

Call them on 0845 60 60 265 (I think!!) and check they plan to do this - maybe better if Mum is there, she can also insist on a password so the person calling can confirm they are genuine.

Also tell her not to worry to much - they may well be trying to give more as some pensioners have savings that decrease (for example) and this can affect their entitlement.

Loopy_Girl

Is this not like the letters tax credits send out to make sure you are due everything you are entitled to?