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End of Pension Credit
maggy50
Posts: 783 Forumite
I have been trying to help my neighbour who has been totally confused with the system I am no expert but I find the system laughable !!!
They are both on state pension and have been receiving a small amount of pension credit due to the husband having an small private pension.
Due to the increase in state pension this week the pension credit (pennies) has been stopped as they are now over the limit with the increase.
As they have housing and council tax benefit they were written to by the council to bring down proof of their income as ther being a change ie (pennies in pension credit stopped )
This they did a week ago in person bank statements , pension awards p60 for the private pension that has been the same for over 20 years .
Today they had a letter from the council suspending the benefit as they were given no adequate proof of the private pension !!!!
Its on the p60 and on the bank statements paid monthly direct to bank.
The poor people being the old school are now worried sick for in the space of a couple of weeks they have reduced income and now benefits are suspended its shocking to burden elderly vulnerable with such stress.
I just despair I hope I do not get treated like this when its my turn.
They are both on state pension and have been receiving a small amount of pension credit due to the husband having an small private pension.
Due to the increase in state pension this week the pension credit (pennies) has been stopped as they are now over the limit with the increase.
As they have housing and council tax benefit they were written to by the council to bring down proof of their income as ther being a change ie (pennies in pension credit stopped )
This they did a week ago in person bank statements , pension awards p60 for the private pension that has been the same for over 20 years .
Today they had a letter from the council suspending the benefit as they were given no adequate proof of the private pension !!!!
Its on the p60 and on the bank statements paid monthly direct to bank.
The poor people being the old school are now worried sick for in the space of a couple of weeks they have reduced income and now benefits are suspended its shocking to burden elderly vulnerable with such stress.
I just despair I hope I do not get treated like this when its my turn.
Light travels faster than sound.
This is why some people seem as bright until you hear them.
This is why some people seem as bright until you hear them.
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Comments
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The P60 shows previous years Private Pensions and bank statements will show previous months private pensions. They will want to see proof of what the Private Pension is from April 2014 - if it has remained the same for years is it an annuity rather than a Private Pension? If so provide any documentation showing the award has been the same for years with no change.
The Government being generous with Retirement Pension increases has meant many pensioners are now losing their pension credit and are now being means tested where they start losing help towards their rent and council tax due to their higher income. Some are losing altogether because of their previously disregarded capital.These are my own views and you should seek advice from your local Benefits Department or CAB.0 -
You probably won't even get a pension let alone added benefits!
Have they rang pension credit as my limited understanding is that state pension increase should affect it.Tomorrow is the most important thing in life0 -
bloolagoon wrote: »You probably won't even get a pension let alone added benefits!
Have they rang pension credit as my limited understanding is that state pension increase should affect it.
Pension credit have written to them telling them it will be stopped and they rang them to confirm this.Light travels faster than sound.
This is why some people seem as bright until you hear them.0 -
But in this case there are no savings they have less than a third of the 9000 they have been asked about .Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »The P60 shows previous years Private Pensions and bank statements will show previous months private pensions. They will want to see proof of what the Private Pension is from April 2014 - if it has remained the same for years is it an annuity rather than a Private Pension? If so provide any documentation showing the award has been the same for years with no change.
The Government being generous with Retirement Pension increases has meant many pensioners are now losing their pension credit and are now being means tested where they start losing help towards their rent and council tax due to their higher income. Some are losing altogether because of their previously disregarded capital.
Suspending their benefit is heartless and very heavy handed IMHO.Light travels faster than sound.
This is why some people seem as bright until you hear them.0 -
But in this case there are no savings they have less than a third of the 9000 they have been asked about .
Suspending their benefit is heartless and very heavy handed IMHO.
I don't follow your logic.
Their private pension plus their state pension meant that they were only getting 'pennies' of the Pension Credit.
Unlike other benefits these 'pennies' meant they got full HB and CT support (up to their personal circumstances).
The HB has been suspended because they have not provided the correct information. It will be assessed, reinstated and backdated when they provide the evidence.
Since this is tax payers' money I have no problem with the benefit departments asking for evidence of income and savings. As already said because Pension Credit has no maximum level for savings (just deductions from the PC ) someone can claim it and still receive full HB and CT support with a quite high level of savings.
Yes, your friends are not in this situation but the system relies on a set of rules which must be followed.0 -
Suspending their benefit is heartless and very heavy handed IMHO.
No, it isn't, because their basic state pension has increased, therefore they have the same amount of money and they've been lifted out of the 'means-tested' trap.[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Æ[/FONT]r ic wisdom funde, [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]æ[/FONT]r wear[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ð[/FONT] ic eald.
Before I found wisdom, I became old.0 -
bloolagoon wrote: »You probably won't even get a pension let alone added benefits!
Have they rang pension credit as my limited understanding is that state pension increase should affect it.
I am surprised that they don't have an AIP in place.
Yes the State Pension has risen, but so has the cut off point for Guaranteed Pension credit0 -
What's an AIP?[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Æ[/FONT]r ic wisdom funde, [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]æ[/FONT]r wear[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ð[/FONT] ic eald.
Before I found wisdom, I became old.0 -
pmlindyloo wrote: »I don't follow your logic.
Their private pension plus their state pension meant that they were only getting 'pennies' of the Pension Credit.
Unlike other benefits these 'pennies' meant they got full HB and CT support (up to their personal circumstances).
The HB has been suspended because they have not provided the correct information. It will be assessed, reinstated and backdated when they provide the evidence.
Since this is tax payers' money I have no problem with the benefit departments asking for evidence of income and savings. As already said because Pension Credit has no maximum level for savings (just deductions from the PC ) someone can claim it and still receive full HB and CT support with a quite high level of savings.
Yes, your friends are not in this situation but the system relies on a set of rules which must be followed.
Not entirely the case.
The suspension will last for a month, after which if they fail to satisfy the council's requirements to the letter within that month, the award will be terminated as from the date of the suspension at best or an earlier date if that can be shown as being reasonable by the council - with no back dating being allowed to when it was first suspended.0 -
margaretclare wrote: »What's an AIP?
An Assessed Income Period.
A time limited (generally 5 years) period where any increase in retirement provision as well as increases in capital are ignored completely0
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