Pension credit and funeral costs

spanner48m

I would like to pay for my funeral in advance, but this would reduce my savings, and therefore my income. I might therefore need to claim pension credit, in the future
Would this be considered as me deliberately getting rid of the money to qualify for benefits, or would this be considered to be a fair way to spend my money?
I am concerned that my family may become liable to pay for my funeral, but am also aware that if I pay for my own funeral it is likely to diminish my income considerably.
I dont want to do anything that was considered to be unlawful or wrong, but I do need to protect my family from costs, and also need to consider paying my own bills.
I only receive a basic state pension, with no other income, therefore to pay my bills my savings are going down all the time

pmlindyloo

spanner48m wrote: »

I would like to pay for my funeral in advance, but this would reduce my savings, and therefore my income. I might therefore need to claim pension credit, in the future
Would this be considered as me deliberately getting rid of the money to qualify for benefits, or would this be considered to be a fair way to spend my money?
I am concerned that my family may become liable to pay for my funeral, but am also aware that if I pay for my own funeral it is likely to diminish my income considerably.
I dont want to do anything that was considered to be unlawful or wrong, but I do need to protect my family from costs, and also need to consider paying my own bills.
I only receive a basic state pension, with no other income, therefore to pay my bills my savings are going down all the time

To answer your original question, paying in advance for a funeral plan is not counted as deprivation of income.

Did you realise that Pension credit is unlike other benefits and you can have considerable savings and still be eligible for PC which would give you automatic entitlement to housing costs/council tax support/some health costs?

If you have only the state pension then you are likely to be eligible. You are allowed £10000 in savings and anything over this amount is deducted from your PC a £1 for every £500.

So they take your eligible amount of PC minus your pension and then deduct the above.

Calculator here:

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