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How easy/stressful/time consuming to apply for HB & CTB

My money is heading downwards to the £16,000 figure and I am dreading having to start claiming these two things. Especially as I recently went through a lot of work towars claiming ESA to be told I was not eligiable due to my auto credit stamps which didn't count.

So any tips on the stress, and any other matters, regarding HB and CTB? Not having claimed anything before and at the ripe age of 63 but State Pension, at 65, too far ahead for me to get to without claiming.
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Comments

  • allen35
    allen35 Posts: 1,516 Forumite
    Applied for Pension Credit......

    0800 99 1234
    Forums can be/are a good guide to entitlement and it is good practice to back it up with clarification from the relevant department/specialist with written confirmation to safeguard yourself.
  • luminated
    luminated Posts: 1,168 Forumite
    allen35 wrote: »
    Applied for Pension Credit......

    0800 99 1234

    Income too high - over the specified amount.

    Ran through turn2us and my councils web site calculator and both say the same for the HB and CTB figures.
  • dseventy
    dseventy Posts: 1,220 Forumite
    luminated wrote: »
    My money is heading downwards to the £16,000 figure and I am dreading having to start claiming these two things.
    So any tips on the stress, and any other matters.


    If you are genuinely in need and the money means means the state intervention will keep you in your house and pay the vitals, then stress = ok.

    If you feel the requirements from the state is too much and you can't be doing with it all, all the questions, the scrutiny on your financial affairs etc then the stress is too much = don't claim.

    That black and white enough for you?

    D70
    How about no longer being masochistic?
    How about remembering your divinity?
    How about unabashedly bawling your eyes out?
    How about not equating death with stopping?
  • allen35
    allen35 Posts: 1,516 Forumite
    Try again in April when allowances rise a little, anyone in receipt of DLA or a carer in the household, these give extra premiums towards HB.

    I get the feeling at times that if you've saved for later life you don't seem to gain unless you're putting vast amounts into a pension fund...
    Forums can be/are a good guide to entitlement and it is good practice to back it up with clarification from the relevant department/specialist with written confirmation to safeguard yourself.
  • luminated
    luminated Posts: 1,168 Forumite
    dseventy wrote: »
    That black and white enough for you?

    D70

    Are you being sarcastic or what ?
  • luminated
    luminated Posts: 1,168 Forumite
    allen35 wrote: »
    Try again in April when allowances rise a little, anyone in receipt of DLA or a carer in the household, these give extra premiums towards HB.

    I get the feeling at times that if you've saved for later life you don't seem to gain unless you're putting vast amounts into a pension fund...

    I had saved very hard and have lived off my savings for over three years because I had to stop work, in 2008, through health problems. I was hoping to get to 65 without claiming benefits but if needs must!!!!
  • dseventy
    dseventy Posts: 1,220 Forumite
    luminated wrote: »
    Are you being sarcastic or what ?

    What do you want to know?

    You state you have lots of money (16K+) and don't want to claim benefits until 65 (your quote).

    You make a play of pointing out how hard you have saved, yet worried about the stress of making a claim to help?

    Call *me* saracastic if you want........

    D70
    How about no longer being masochistic?
    How about remembering your divinity?
    How about unabashedly bawling your eyes out?
    How about not equating death with stopping?
  • luminated
    luminated Posts: 1,168 Forumite
    dseventy wrote: »
    What do you want to know?

    You state you have lots of money (16K+) and don't want to claim benefits until 65 (your quote).

    You make a play of pointing out how hard you have saved, yet worried about the stress of making a claim to help?

    Call *me* saracastic if you want........

    D70

    Yes you are sarcastic and thank goodness for those with a much more considerate manner on this board. Just what is your problem? Are you on here for an argument or are you a troll.
  • societys_child
    societys_child Posts: 7,110 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I think the problem D70 has, is that you have over 16k but feel you need some benefits ...

    To answer your question, I don't think claiming HB/ CTB is particularly stressful. Just answer the questions on the form and send it off along with any proof they require ... good luck.
  • luminated
    luminated Posts: 1,168 Forumite
    I think the problem D70 has, is that you have over 16k but feel you need some benefits ...

    To answer your question, I don't think claiming HB/ CTB is particularly stressful. Just answer the questions on the form and send it off along with any proof they require ... good luck.

    I confess I know exactly why D70 is making the points he/they does. I have seen it so many times on this board where any money at all, even £1,000 in your account, should mean NO benefits. He/they should take their issues out on the DT board and not get in the way of the many who need help on this board.

    This board has many vulnerable folks posting but I really think many are put off by some of the unsympathetic posts.

    It seems whatever your question you need to phrase it in such a way it will not attract some of the unhelpful comments but it never ceases to amaze me, how with the most innocent of posts, some take great delight in twisting their reply to stick the knife in.

    I have no experience of claiming so do appreciate any tips and thank you for replying as I really have no idea if HB and CTB will be hard or time consuming. My recent claim for ESA took it out of me big time - over one week around 12 telephone conversations, filled in the medical form, sent off documents and then one week on to be told my Auto Credits did not count so application thrown out.
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