state pension

shellieboo

The government pension office have told me that I never claimed my state pension on my credits in 2006. They never offered me it or told me I could have it.In fact I have never even heard of the government pension office. I know the jobcentre in town but not them.
They are sending me a form to fill in to claim it from now. What happens to the past 6 years that they owe me? Do they just keep it?
i have the pension credit office telling me that they have had to assume I have been getting it because I was entitled to it.

Its worth about £76 a week in todays money. Dont they owe me about £19000?

p00hsticks

shellieboo wrote: »

The government pension office have told me that I never claimed my state pension on my credits in 2006. They never offered me it or told me I could have it.

I'm not 100% sure what you are saying, but it sounds as if you reached state pension age in 2006 but didn't recieve any communication from the Pension Service to tell you at the time and you didn't realise that you were eligible for a state pension - is this correct ?

If you had accumulated sufficient NI contributions over your working life, then you should have been sent a claim form from the Pension Sevice when you approached retirement age inviting you to claim your pension. If you didn't send this back (and from the sound of it you say you never recived it in the first place) then they'll hjave assumed you wanted to defer claiming it.

If you claim it now (by contacting the pension office) then you may well be entitled to a lump sum and/or an increased pension to allow for the fact that you have deferred claiming.
However, if you have been claiming other benefits in that time then this might affect what you get. What income have you been living on between 2006 and now - have you been working ?

https://www.gov.uk/deferring-state-pension/what-you-may-get

shellieboo

p00hsticks wrote: »

I'm not 100% sure what you are saying, but it sounds as if you reached state pension age in 2006 but didn't recieve any communication from the Pension Service to tell you at the time and you didn't realise that you were eligible for a state pension - is this correct ?

If you had accumulated sufficient NI contributions over your working life, then you should have been sent a claim form from the Pension Sevice when you approached retirement age inviting you to claim your pension. If you didn't send this back (and from the sound of it you say you never recived it in the first place) then they'll hjave assumed you wanted to defer claiming it.

If you claim it now (by contacting the pension office) then you may well be entitled to a lump sum and/or an increased pension to allow for the fact that you have deferred claiming.
However, if you have been claiming other benefits in that time then this might affect what you get. What income have you been living on between 2006 and now - have you been working ?

https://www.gov.uk/deferring-state-pension/what-you-may-get

Ta,
We have been getting pension credit for the past 8 years. For the last 6 of them the pension credit people have been deducting my pension from the payment as though I have been getting it. they called it notional or something like that.

They worked out what we were due from the pension credit and took away my pension that I didnt get and paid us the difference. Ive only just found out about all this.

No we didnt get any letters because we have had to move so many times because they keep on putting up the rent every 6 months and we cant afford it.

I cant remember how many houses and flats we have lived in in the past 6 years it must be at least 10 probably 12. We will move again in the spring when the rent will go up on this place. We are thinking that its best to try to share a house with other older people with our own bedroom as it will be cheaper.

p00hsticks

shellieboo wrote: »

Ta,
We have been getting pension credit for the past 8 years. For the last 6 of them the pension credit people have been deducting my pension from the payment as though I have been getting it. they called it notional or something like that.

They worked out what we were due from the pension credit and took away my pension that I didnt get and paid us the difference. Ive only just found out about all this.

I'm not an expert, but from what you say it appears that you haven't been overpaid benefits due to lack of a pension, as they've been calculating your pension credit payments as if you were already claiming.

As I've said in my previous post, if you claim your state pension now (by filling in the claim form that they're sending you) it should be increased (and/or you'll get a lump sum payout) to take account of the fact that you're claiming it seven years later than you could have done.

atush

have you been to see the council to get on a list for social housing? So you won't have to move so often?

Have you been to see the CAB?

p00hsticks

atush wrote: »

have you been to see the council to get on a list for social housing? So you won't have to move so often?

Have you been to see the CAB?

I've just realised that this is a follow up to a larger thread from shelleyboo that is ongoing over on the 'Disability and dosh' board

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4374383

It sounds like Shelleyboo has been to see Age UK and has had contact with the Pension Office so should hopefully be getting her cliam for state pension in shortly...

atush

I've just read it, and boy does she need better help than she has been getting. hopefully the Age UK will stick by their word and go down there with her next week.'


Now, as to the deferred state pension. This couple seems to have no money in savings, and I wonder about their LE. Are they better off with a LS, or enhanced pension. Normally I would say enhanced pension but not sure in this case.

shellieboo

atush wrote: »

have you been to see the council to get on a list for social housing? So you won't have to move so often?

Have you been to see the CAB?

Ta,
Yes many years ago, in 1989 I think. They told us that we would have no chance as there arent that many properties and what they have generally go to others with more points than we have, single mums, them that are homeless and them that are seriously ill.
We was hoping for a council house or flat but it wasnt to be. Thats why we had to rent off people and move when the rent is put up at the end of every 6 months.

atush

As both being pensioners, maybe that will give you more points? have you checked since your husband retired?

sleepless_saver

Shellieboo, as you are currently getting pension credit you are entitled to help with rent and council tax. You shouldn't be having to keep moving. Phone your local council to claim it https://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council - or ask AgeUK to help you.

shellieboo

atush wrote: »

As both being pensioners, maybe that will give you more points? have you checked since your husband retired?

Ta,
No we haven't bothered since we registered in 1989. The council were so sure that we didnt stand a chance. I thought that they would just contact us if something came up with our name on it.