Adult Dependency Increase

troller

I retired and received my State Pension from 1st february, 2010. I have only been aware that i could have claimed Adult Dependency Increase for my wife but have since learnt that this entitlement was withdrawen from April 2010. As my claim for this payment was not received prior to April 2010 I am not now entitled to it.
As I was not aware of this payment at the time I claimed my State pension, I would like to hear from anybody who is actually receiving Adult Dependency Increase to let me know how they were informed or found out that they were eligable for it. Many thanks

McKneff

I would have thought that the question regarding any adult dependancy would have been asked on the form when you claimed your state pension.

Does your wife have any income at all or did she have any when you put in your claim and also, how old is she.

troller

I was not informed by the Pension Service in any form or telephone call that I may have been entitled to this payment. The Pension Service advise that it was my responsibility to find out what I was entitled to and they have no obligation in law to advise me otherwise.
Obviously a way to make sure they do not pay out all benefits that a Pensioner, may be entitled too.
My wife will be 59 this year but her retirement year has changed from 60 to 63.

sleepless_saver

To answer your original question, people who filled in the form before April 2010 to claim the state pension would have found out about claiming the adult dependency increase by looking at the relevant bit of the Notes. This is clearly indicated on the form as something to read before answering the question about whether you want to claim an increase for your spouse.

McKneff

As SS said, it would have been on the form, presumably you just missed it.

As your wife is of working age is she actually earning anything. Maybe she was at the time so you didnt claim for her.

Anything to stop her working now, I worked till I was 62 (my pension age was 60 so it was by choice that I worked)

Even then, it wasnt by choice that I left, I was made redundant after 25 years with the company. I probably would have worked a few more years to be honest.

margaretclare

McKneff wrote: »

As SS said, it would have been on the form, presumably you just missed it.

As your wife is of working age is she actually earning anything? Maybe she was at the time so you didn't claim for her.

Anything to stop her working now? I worked till I was 62 (my pension age was 60 so it was by choice that I worked)

I too worked. DH and I both worked until we were 67.

How humiliating - to be described as an 'adult dependent'.

troller

Can not really remember seeing it on the claim form, maybe I missed it. My wife has never worked since she gave birth to our first child in 1974 (we went on to have another 2). My wife is now financialy dependen on my state pension. I have worked all my life and have never before claimed a penny from the state. Due to a technicallity in not claiming the ADI befor April 2010, although at the time was eligable to claim it, I am now told that it is too late and now not entitled to it. I have now to provide for my wife out of my state pension for the next 4 years. It seems a little unfair to me, but it seems that cutting pensioners pensions is fair game at the moment

McKneff

Do you have any other income, SP2, pension credit, private pension, housing benefit, council tax benefit.

I'm sure youre not expected to live on State Pension of £102 ish. as I'm pretty sure you couldnt.

Maybe seems unfair but youre wife has paid nothing into the nations coffers since 1974 ie tax or ni since 1974 either so she is probably on the winning side to be honest.

Do you realise also that because your wife has not paid enough NI she will have to claim on your contributions and this is capped at 60% of a full state pension.

sleepless_saver

troller wrote: »

Can not really remember seeing it on the claim form, maybe I missed it. My wife has never worked since she gave birth to our first child in 1974 (we went on to have another 2). My wife is now financialy dependen on my state pension. I have worked all my life and have never before claimed a penny from the state.

If your income is that low, maybe it's time you did claim something from the state. You have nothing to lose by phoning the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234 and asking them to check your entitlement to pension credit.

troller

Thanks for all your comments, but what I really needed from this forum was to receive a reply to my original question, if there were anyone out there who is receiving Adult dependency Increase, how were they made aware of it. Did they receive information from the pension service, word of mouth, internet research etc. I am just very curious to know.

McKneff

They would have read it on the form which you said you probably missed, if they had not heard of it elsewhere over time.

Dont mean to be rude but if someone is on JSA, they claim for themselves and dependants.
or on Sickness benefits, then they also claim for themselves and dependants.

Say if you had been on the dole in 2000, for 3 years, you wouldnt only have claimed for yourself, you would have claimed for your wife also, as a dependant.

You still havent said if you have any other income. We could possibly help as to what else you would be entitled to claim.