Pension Credit - How long can they wait for evidence

bigboybrother

Whiteknight wrote: »

You have a calendar month (31 days) to supply the information required. Information supplied after this time could affect the date you want to claim from.

Maybe, I don't know. But all he wants is someone to come out from the Visiting team (as he is entitled to have) to help put all of the evidence together and verify it.

The DWP are refusing to allow it.

And if he is having difficulty getting hold of some of the information from a third party the DWP are supposed to be flexible enough (it is written in the regulations as such) to extend the 31 day rule.

There is no question of it affecting the date of the claim - it can be backdated 3 months anyhow. He could well make a claim at the end of May and have the means tested payents paid from the 1st March.

poppasmurf_bewdley

bigboybrother wrote: »

That's the first point - he doesn't know what they want - he is assuming. He has indicated to the PS that he has bank statements but the PS have suggested that it will just show the net and may include deductions that are not allowed - ie union subs etc.

Why is a 73 year old (presumably retired) person paying union subs?

bigboybrother

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Why is a 73 year old (presumably retired) person paying union subs?

It was an example that the DWP gave that would mean that the amount going into the bank from the pension was not necessarily the amount that they would use as income - it would be a non allowable deduction for DWP purposes.


Besides which there are many retired people that continue to pay union subs for the benefits that they may receive from the union even though they are retired.

Personally I still pay my annual subs to the FDA, Benenden as well as the CSPA even though I retired nearly 4 years ago!

mazza111

bigboybrother wrote: »

Is it absolutely necessary to explain everything in great detail when asking a question on here?

Yes you are right. The reason the 9th was so important was that his wife was taken into hospital 90 miles away for major surgery. The procedure would mean a stay of at least 4 weeks probably longer in hospital. He wants to see his wife every day.

And that's the point I was trying to make Even though it was stated here as an inconvenience, the DWP would have been given the exact reason

superwoman4

mazza111 wrote: »

And that's the point I was trying to make Even though it was stated here as an inconvenience, the DWP would have been given the exact reason

This was helentay when her parents didn't bother to go to ESA assessments to gain financially from Countil Tax benefits. Now they are trying for Pension Credit instead.

helentay wrote: »

No the husband was claiming ESA contribution based which does not passport to full CTB. He has now submitted a new ESA claim under the income based procedure.

Obviously this has resulted in a lowering of the overall income that was previously coming into the household. they are not too worried about that as many people are also having to manage on that level of benefit.
Also being that it is now Income based, it should result in full CTB being allowed (passport).

However the council are refusing to accept that and are saying that they will only allow CTB based on what they would have got if the contribution based ESA payments were still being paid.

So there is a situation of the council telling them that because he didn't bother to go to the ESA assessment, they shouldn't gain financially through CTB. If you get my drift. Even I find it difficult to understand.

mazza111

Already agreed with you on that one too hon

But it would just be off putting for genuine people to put inconvenience on here when they may not want to give personal details if that makes sense

bigboybrother

mazza111 wrote: »

Already agreed with you on that one too hon

But it would just be off putting for genuine people to put inconvenience on here when they may not want to give personal details if that makes sense

Thanks, are you actually insinuating that I am not a 'genuine person'?

cheekyweegit

If you're struggling to get the information from your providers, the Pension Service can send a form to you to sign which they can obtain the information direct from the provider themselves. This direct request might work out quicker in the long run as you don't need to forward it on.

They need one form for each provider. Not at work just now and can't for the life of me remember the name of it.

If you are struggling, keep them informed at all times, the phone lines are open 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

Hope this helps.

bigboybrother

cheekyweegit wrote: »

If you're struggling to get the information from your providers, the Pension Service can send a form to you to sign which they can obtain the information direct from the provider themselves. This direct request might work out quicker in the long run as you don't need to forward it on.

They need one form for each provider. Not at work just now and can't for the life of me remember the name of it.

If you are struggling, keep them informed at all times, the phone lines are open 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

Hope this helps.

Thanks it does, they never told him about that. All they seem to be concerned about is closing my friend's Pension Credit claim down at the earliest date for whatever reason that they can come up with, without offering any help to get over this problem. I have a strange feeling that for some reason this appears to have become a personal issue between the Pension service and him. I have good reason to suspect that but can't see it being true.

He hates talking to them as within minutes it becomes a battle ground of wills and argument. I have found out that his new claim is being dealt with by a 'Specialist Decision Maker' instead of the normal 'Customer Services' people.

He prefers everything to be done in writing - is that a problem in keeping them in the loop?

cbrown372

bigboybrother wrote: »

Thanks, are you actually insinuating that I am not a 'genuine person'?

No insinuations needed Andy we all know you aren't genuine