Please Help, Too Proud for Benefit Advice

lavidaloca

I understand that if he went to claim JSA they would send him on to pension credits because of his age.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/PensionCredit/DG_10018692

Jowo_2

Tax credits?

Work through the LHA Direct website (to identify the maximum LHA payable for a 1 bedroom property (which is the rate he is entitled to regardless of the size he is currently living in) and then work through the Turn2us online benefits calculator which will take into account his income and let him know if he's eligible for LHA, tax credits and so on.

oldestrocker

lavidaloca wrote: »

I understand that if he went to claim JSA they would send him on to pension credits because of his age.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/PensionCredit/DG_10018692

Hi, whilst that is part correct, he may be advised to claim Pension Credit instead of JSA. However it is up to the claimant if he/she wishes to do so. The JC+ cannot make him do it!
The only trouble with Pension Credit is that you get no help whatsoever that you get with JSA in trying to secure some type of employment.
Pension Credit is really for those that have no intention of working and see it as a means of obtaining benefit without having to do anything for it. I am sure the OP does not wish to be 'sidelined' and is intending to find work. Or maybe I am wrong.

In reality, Pension Credit should be cleared away altogether and everyone of working age (although strictly there is now no age at which someone should be treated as not of working age) should either claim JSA or ESA. Maybe the point of moving from JSA/ESA will be when the OAP is actually paid from (not when it can be claimed from).With the money saved the OAP could be increased as is hopefully the intention.

I had this argument last year when the JC+ 'suggested' that I claim Pension Credit. I refused, but the JSA claim was shortlived as due to ill health I claimed ESA. I still receive comments that I shouldn't even be claiming ESA - I'm 62 and certainly not ready to be labelled as of 'Pension Age'!!!