Pension credit and child at Uni

adviceforall

Hi,

My OH claims pension credit and they wanted to know about our daughter ( 22) and how much she earns, is she at college/Uni how many hours etc a while ago.
We have supplied that information a while and today she starts Uni ( she was at College before and working part time ..I'm sure at the start they paid us less as she was still living at home and working.

I phoned the pension credit helpline as it states you have to inform them that of things like becoming a full time student, but have been told it makes no difference to the amount of money paid to us? Is that correct?
If she makes no difference why do they need to know what's she is doing? how much she is earning etc?

We are down a lot of money already due to the interest rate change and they are paying a lot less mortgage interest than they have been.

Just want to make she we have been given the correct advice.

Sixtails

You have been told the correct information, the amount she's earning won't make a difference to your partners claim. They have to take the information on the claim as in certain cases it can make a difference but the amount earned is pretty irrelavant to PC. One of the main reasons its taken on the original claim is for CTB & HB as when PC is paid, the council are notified of the award & the non-dependant info is one of the things supplied by PC to the council.

Since PC is now in payment, a change in your daughters income won't make a difference but if you claim CTB it is probably a good idea to make sure they are notified of the change too.

You shouldn't have been paid a different amount because she was at home & working unless DLA/AA is in payment to you or your partner - that's the only time your daughter could make a difference.

anmarj

it would be down to the mortgage interest that pc would need to know, because as a non dep, because she would of been expected to pay a share towards the costs.

adviceforall

Thanks, yes we do get some money towards the mortgage interest and that was what i was thinking about being a deduction because she was a non dependant but maybe i'm just confusing it with council tax benefit.
Have informed the council about it and just need to take in some kind of proof that she is a full time uni student.