Pension Credit

kevkevkev

When claiming a means tested benefit i.e pension credit can the DPW ask to see bank statements and if so how far back can they ask you to go.?
Also, are the goverment thinking of putting a limit on capital you have to qualify for PC ? At the moment I don't think there is a limit

richard9991

kevkevkev wrote: »

When claiming a means tested benefit i.e pension credit can the DPW ask to see bank statements and if so how far back can they ask you to go.?
Also, are the goverment thinking of putting a limit on capital you have to qualify for PC ? At the moment I don't think there is a limit

in answer to bank accounts yes they can ask to see statements also they can go back as far as they like

evenasus

kevkevkev wrote: »

When claiming a means tested benefit i.e pension credit can the DPW ask to see bank statements and if so how far back can they ask you to go.?
Also, are the govenrment thinking of putting a limit on capital you have to qualify for PC ? At the moment I don't think there is a limit

I think you'll find there is.

Until recently, I hadn't heard of pension credit.
So, out of interest, I entered my financial information on the relevant government website - the answer was - zero entitlement.

This is what I knew it would be, as it would have been ridiculous to say I was entitled to pension credit, as I have far too much in savings to qualify.

mysterywoman10

I put in a fictional amounts of savings of £20,000, a mortgage 60,000, a state pension of £144 and it said I was entitled £20.00 something a week! I was quite surprised as I didn't realise it took mortgages into account.

princessdon

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

I put in a fictional amounts of savings of £20,000, a mortgage 60,000, a state pension of £144 and it said I was entitled £20.00 something a week! I was quite surprised as I didn't realise it took mortgages into account.

Yes it does that is the gripe I and others have with pension credit. If you are 1p over £144 you get nothing, then are means tested for other benefits. Over £6,000 for rent, SMI etc.

This means people like my gran (removing her asset of home to sell as this is complicated and not normal), who were just over the limit have to pay rent etc. I don't agree with passported benefits. Savings over £6k should be taken into account for housing like other benefits. As it stands £1 of guaranteed pension credit (not savings pc), gives full rent, full council tax etc.

mysterywoman10

To be honest I don't really understand Pension Credits or know that much about it.

Is that why they came up with the figure of £144 for this new single tier pension scheme do you think?

My mum-in-law gets a small private pension on top of her state pension does get some housing benefit, council tax etc. but not all. But she says although she gets £3 or something pension credit she doesn't get free dental treatment for example? She has no savings though.

Horseunderwater

Nobody needs to sell a home when claiming PC as it is not counted as income.
Capital limits for PC are £10k-£16k in savings.
If you still have a mortgage in retirement that needs to be paid you can get help with the interest on the originally borrowed amount of capital of 3.63%.
Should you be in either Social or private rented - then you will get help with housing benefit.
And I think still get 100% of CTax paid as these were protected under the new changes.
PLEASE get the facts right.

boingsaidzebedee

The DWP can check back as far as they like on Bank Accounts,Tax records,Self Employed Accounts etc.
Otherwise there would be nothing to stop a millionaire disposing of their assets and hiding money away to fraudulently claim Pension Credit.
The house you live in is not regarded as an asset.
To Claim Guaranteed Pension Credit,before this months rise,your weekly income would be below £142.70 and full savings of I believe below £10,000.
Only the Guaranteed Element of Pension Credit gives access to 100% Council Tax Benefit.
Mysterywoman perhaps your mum-in-law has total pensions above the Guaranteed Pension Credit level which if over £142.70 would make her not qualify.
Free dental treatment is available to those receiving this Guaranteed element.

boingsaidzebedee

I have said this on another thread regarding the new State Pension.
By setting it at £144 they will take people above the Guaranteed Pension Credit income level.
Even a couple of pounds above may make everyone ineligible for 100% Council Tax Benefit,free dental care etc.
This will mean the basic pension will leave people without private pensions much worse off than today.
Though younger people may criticize what poorer pensioners now receive they need to see that these benefits are most likely going to disappear within a few years.

pmlindyloo

Just to correct a few 'errors' as regards savings for Guarantee Pension Credit.

For guarantee Pension Credit you are allowed £10000 in savings. £1 is deducted from the guarantee pension credit for each £500 (or part of) over this amount. So you can have quite a lot of savings and still be entitled to Gurantee Pension Credit which, in turn, entitles you to full HB/Housing costs and CTB. (even if the Gurantee Pension Credit is just a small amount)

For all the information please see here:

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility

princessdon

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Just to correct a few 'errors' as regards savings for Guarantee Pension Credit.

For guarantee Pension Credit you are allowed £10000 in savings. £1 is deducted from the guarantee pension credit for each £500 (or part of) over this amount. So you can have quite a lot of savings and still be entitled to Gurantee Pension Credit which, in turn, entitles you to full HB/Housing costs and CTB. (even if the Gurantee Pension Credit is just a small amount)

For all the information please see here:

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility

Precisely, savings above normal benefits rates of 6k are ignored when compared to HB Etc, as even £5 a week PC, gives full housing costs and CTB.