Pension Tax Credit Question?

dg1968

I am writing on behalf of my mum is widowed pensioner 67yo living on her own in own house (less than £10k savings, no mortgage)

My father dies in 2007 and since this time i have been putting £30 in bank for her every week to help out, she gets only state pension plus small money from my dads pensions.

Someone has mentioned pension credit to her before but this £30 was always a stumbling block as she stil wants this from me, but says while i get this she cannot get this pension credit?

Reading a bit about it i thing she is wrong and probably is entitltled to it already with or without the £30 i give her....

Any ideas, also if she does apply, can it be back dated?

As ever all help appreciated...

Just to add she does not get any other help neither, like this winter fuel allowance etc, is ther other things we should be looking into also, not wanting to free load, my mum worked for almost 50 years and dad the same and never took anything out of the system....

Whiteknight

If she claimed everything she was entitled to you would not have to keep giving her this £30 a week. Pension Credit can only be backdating for 3 months.

sleepless_saver

Do a benefits check for her, both with and without the £30. Then you can see what difference it makes to her total income including the benefits she is entitled to.

She should certainly be getting winter fuel payment. She can phone 0845 9 15 15 15 to get a claim form which she needs to return by end March to get this winter's payment. She won't be able to get back the earlier years she has missed.