does weekly state pension vary?

bitten_by_cutie

I was asked to keep an eye on the bank statement of an elderly parent.

I have a look online every few months.

I noticed the pension is £50 less for 1 week and £25 less on a another week, both in February.

All other weekly amounts always the same amount, from year dot....so do not understand. The lower amount of days in Feb does not explain the shortfall.

I wanted to ask here, in case there is an explanation, as I do not want to worry relative for nothing.

McKneff

State pension should not vary week to week or month to month.
The only time it should change is when it 'hopefully' rises in April.

I would ask them, and then ring the pension people.

le_loup

The weekly amount will be constant until a tax year change.

xylophone

This seems very strange.

Your parent should have a letter from DWP showing the weekly amount and breakdown of state pension for 2015-16 and should be about to receive (if not already have received), a statement for 2016-17.

The state pension can be paid in advance of of the normal payment day if that day falls on a bank holiday but the amount should not vary within the tax year.

bitten_by_cutie

ok, I will let them know thanks

anmarj

They may have an overpayment that is being deducted from the weekly amount

bigfreddiel

How do you know it's an sp payment? Maybe it's some other benefit.

Do you know what the sp payment should be?

Cheers fj

bitten_by_cutie

I can doublecheck but cannot see how it is another benefit, as otherwise the pension credit for the correct amount would be there too but it isnt for those 2 weeks, Just these 2 lower amounts. They have the same reference on them, like the pension always has, which is the national insurance number.

greenglide

So they get Pension Credit as well paid separately?

If so this could be an adjustment, possibly to recover an overpayment of pension credit but they would have to be in contact to know that something had changed.

Odd.

Pollycat

bigfreddiel wrote: »

How do you know it's an sp payment? Maybe it's some other benefit.

Do you know what the sp payment should be?

Cheers fj

bitten_by_cutie wrote: »

I can doublecheck but cannot see how it is another benefit, as otherwise the pension credit for the correct amount would be there too but it isnt for those 2 weeks, Just these 2 lower amounts. They have the same reference on them, like the pension always has, which is the national insurance number.

State Pension should show on the bank statement as
<national insurance no> DWP SP

Pension credit as
<national insurance no> DWP PC

Attendance Allowance as
<national insurance no> DWP AA

etc

My Mum's state pension (paid weekly) does not vary apart from the notified increase in April.