End of Pension Credit

margaretclare

sleepless_saver wrote: »

So they may be entitled to attendance allowance but have chosen not to claim? It's their choice, but as you say they have paid their taxes all their lives. Plus a successful claim for attendance allowance will increase the amount the government says they need to live on, so could well result in other benefits, e.g. pension credit, being increased.

The mention of DLA at the end of page 1 was the first indication we've had that the couple in question might be eligible for AA. This is definitely worth claiming, but get advice first, AgeUK or DIAL, because it is more difficult than just a few years ago. Nevertheless, well worth the effort. It's not a question of 'burdening the system'. Years ago people used to say they 'didn't want charity'. Well, it's not charity. It's there, for people who need it and whom it might help, just to improve the quality of life.

DH and I have health problems and we're approaching 80, but I'd poke my own eyes out rather than be referred to as 'vulnerable elderly' or 'poor old people' or the like. Oh, and we too paid taxes all our lives, worked from age 16 to 67 (both of us) and we're still taxpayers. I get a bit bored with this 'paid taxes all their lives'. So do most people, if they're fortunate enough to be in a job which pays real folding money!

maggy50

margaretclare wrote: »

The mention of DLA at the end of page 1 was the first indication we've had that the couple in question might be eligible for AA. This is definitely worth claiming, but get advice first, AgeUK or DIAL, because it is more difficult than just a few years ago. Nevertheless, well worth the effort. It's not a question of 'burdening the system'. Years ago people used to say they 'didn't want charity'. Well, it's not charity. It's there, for people who need it and whom it might help, just to improve the quality of life.

I must put that to them you are right it is not charity !!

DH and I have health problems and we're approaching 80, but I'd poke my own eyes out rather than be referred to as 'vulnerable elderly' or 'poor old people' or the like. Oh, and we too paid taxes all our lives, worked from age 16 to 67 (both of us) and we're still taxpayers. I get a bit bored with this 'paid taxes all their lives'. So do most people, if they're fortunate enough to be in a job which pays real folding money!

I also believe that even on State Pension they still are tax payers ?

margaretclare

maggy50 wrote: »

I also believe that even on State Pension they still are tax payers ?

Depends on total income from all sources (except DLA or AA which is non-taxable). If your total income is less than your personal tax allowance then you don't pay tax. If your total income from pensions, annuities etc exceeds your personal allowance then you do pay it. Basic tax allowance for someone over 75 this year is £10,660. This is per person, not per couple. If you claim pension credit you claim it as a couple. This can be where some of the confusion arises.

confuseddaughter_2

anmarj wrote: »

The state pension has always increased, only two scenarios, I can think of,

1. he lives abroad and in a country where the SP will never increase of living abroad

or

2. The SP is paid into a savings account and then transferred over to the current account (yes this does happen!) but the customer does not change the standing order from the savings account to the current account each year, so the excess income stays in the savings account

Your dad will get an uprating letter each year from State Pension telling him what the yearly entitlement is. Pension Credit also send out a yearly letter telling him what his PC entitlement is from uprating along with details of how it is worked out. You may need to check for them:)

Yes mum did get those letters about the increases in her state pension, but as I have said, the GPC that they received up to dad's 65th for 5 years never changed. It was always paid and based on their circumstances that existed in 2009.
The only changes that did happen were mum's state pension increases and all of dad's private pensions that went up by 5% every year along with an increase in capital every year during those years by approx. £4000 every year - £8000 (2009) to £29,000 in 2014.

confuseddaughter_2

sleepless_saver wrote: »

So they may be entitled to attendance allowance but have chosen not to claim? It's their choice, but as you say they have paid their taxes all their lives. Plus a successful claim for attendance allowance will increase the amount the government says they need to live on, so could well result in other benefits, e.g. pension credit, being increased.

It certainly does. Pension Credit, with dad getting his DLA and mum her Attendance, their weekly income went up by about £190 a week excluding the DLA and Attendance monies of another £180 a week.
However, they are to lose about £230 a week of that total of £370 a week because mum's Attendance claim comes to an end shortly. So not everything is guaranteed to last year in year out, there is no certainty with what you are given in benefits.

confuseddaughter_2

margaretclare wrote: »

The mention of DLA at the end of page 1 was the first indication we've had that the couple in question might be eligible for AA. This is definitely worth claiming, but get advice first, AgeUK or DIAL, because it is more difficult than just a few years ago. Nevertheless, well worth the effort. It's not a question of 'burdening the system'. Years ago people used to say they 'didn't want charity'. Well, it's not charity. It's there, for people who need it and whom it might help, just to improve the quality of life.

I couldn't agree with you more.


However those that are on the benefits 'roundabout' have no guarantee or promise that they will always get them. Benefits can change like the wind with most only being granted for short periods of time. You then have to wonder and question if it is really worth spending your retirement years filling in endless welfare claim forms & renewals, attending welfare medical assessments and presenting appeals to a Tribunal to 'fight' a DWP decision.

cbrown372

confuseddaughter wrote: »

I couldn't agree with you more.


However those that are on the benefits 'roundabout' have no guarantee or promise that they will always get them. Benefits can change like the wind with most only being granted for short periods of time. You then have to wonder and question if it is really worth spending your retirement years filling in endless welfare claim forms & renewals, attending welfare medical assessments and presenting appeals to a Tribunal to 'fight' a DWP decision.

But your parents have you to help and since your opening thread on here your knowledge has come on in leaps and bounds, Andy is a lucky man.

confuseddaughter_2

cbrown372 wrote: »

But your parents have you to help and since your opening thread on here your knowledge has come on in leaps and bounds, Andy is a lucky man.

I am self taught through reading all about benefits on forums, books, articles websites etc.
however I don't know everything. In particular I was a little lacking in knowledge about my parents current position. Now that it has been answered and I have been enlightened, I now know more than I did a week or so ago.
Without my help my mum & dad would not be getting their DLA, Attendance, Pension Credit and dad his ESA up to when he was 65.
Those that don't learn or are unwilling to ask, will always lose out.
Oh yes, my dad's name isn't Andy, what gave you that idea?
As in the case of my mum, dad will not have any outside help for her to renew her Attendance claim. Hence once again it is down to just me.

margaretclare

Well, I'm getting equally confused here.

Two things:

Mum got annual letters stating the amount of her state retirement pension, but Dad didn't? AFAIK everyone gets those letters, everyone to whom SRP applies.

Mum is presently getting AA but it comes to an end soon. She'll be asked whether she wants to re-apply - can't remember the wording, but I do remember one benefits adviser telling me that it was rare for AA not to continue on. As she said, you don't get better of the reasons why you claimed AA in the first place, due to changes brought by age. So, is Mum saying she doesn't want to re-apply?

You don't have to 'spend your retirement years'....etc etc. What you have to do is to be on the ball. There's no point in being stupid about it when it's money that you're entitled to. Dad won't allow anyone else to help with Mum's AA claim? Well, it's not down to Dad, it's down to Mum - it's her claim after all, not his! And it's not down to you either. It's down to her.

Just from experience, DH firmly believes that he wouldn't have got his AA successfully if he hadn't gone to DIAL (Disability Information and Advice Line). Even though he's a highly-intelligent and articulate man, used to sorting out problems.

I can't understand the attitude of some people. 'It's too much trouble...' There is money available, it's money which can make a difference to the quality of life, and it's money which comes from the taxes that we all paid, as we're constantly being told.

margaretclare

confuseddaughter wrote: »

It certainly does. Pension Credit, with dad getting his DLA and mum her Attendance, their weekly income went up by about £190 a week excluding the DLA and Attendance monies of another £180 a week.
However, they are to lose about £230 a week of that total of £370 a week because mum's Attendance claim comes to an end shortly. So not everything is guaranteed to last year in year out, there is no certainty with what you are given in benefits.

AA at the full rate is £81.30 weekly, not £230.00.