Will Pension Credit stop if reach State Pension age?

focus888

Hi All,

Hope someone could please help me with this question.

My parents are currently claiming pension credit for a couple, only my dad is old enough for this. He will soon be eligible for state pension but then my mum would not be entited to anything which would mean they would struggle with less money.

Could he delay claiming for state pension and still keep getting the pension credit or would the pension credit stop as soon as he is eligible for the state one?

Or if he did claim the state pension what could my mum do to make up the shortfall they will be getting?

Sorry for such the long post but ive been trying to google this subject all morning with no luck, so much information yet its so confusing thanks for anyone who reads and replies xx

sammyjammy

They get pension credit as a couple, if your Dad getting his state pension would reduce their income below the PC level then they will continue to get pension credit to make the income up.

focus888

Hi Sammy, thanks so much for replying so quickly. So if he switched to state pension the pension credit would bring it up to what it is currently. Then could they just stay on what they are now and not bother to go onto state pension?

pmlindyloo

focus888 wrote: »

Hi Sammy, thanks so much for replying so quickly. So if he switched to state pension the pension credit would bring it up to what it is currently. Then could they just stay on what they are now and not bother to go onto state pension?

If your dad doesn't take his state pension then it will still be used as income (even though he hasn't taken it) for PC so there is little point in deferring it. Plus there are no extra financial 'bonuses' to deferring if he continues to receive PC.

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/State-Pension-Guide

If your parent's total income is less than £230.85 per week when your dad receives his state pension (presuming savings are less than £10000) then their PC will be topped up to this amount with PC.

Mojisola

focus888 wrote: »

My parents are currently claiming pension credit for a couple, only my dad is old enough for this. He will soon be eligible for state pension but then my mum would not be entited to anything which would mean they would struggle with less money.

What is your mother getting now?

McKneff

Is there any reason why either or both couldn't still work.....

xylophone

When does your mother become eligible for her state pension?

She can obtain a state pension statement.

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

Londonsu

You cannot defer your state pension if you are on income based benefits like PC
https://www.gov.uk/deferring-state-pension/extra-state-pension-and-lump-sum-payments

Detroit

focus888 wrote: »

Hi All,

Hope someone could please help me with this question.

My parents are currently claiming pension credit for a couple, only my dad is old enough for this. He will soon be eligible for state pension but then my mum would not be entited to anything which would mean they would struggle with less money.

Could he delay claiming for state pension and still keep getting the

pension credit or would the pension credit stop as soon as he is eligible for the state one?

Or if he did claim the state pension what could my mum do to make up the shortfall they will be getting?

Sorry for such the long post but ive been trying to google this subject all morning with no luck, so much information yet its so confusing thanks for anyone who reads and replies xx

If your parents are on PC they will be on the minimum amount of money people in their circumstances are expected to live on by the government. Therefore your father claiming his SRP should not reduce the total amount of money they have coming in.
There may be changes in the benefits this is made up of, but should not be less than they get now.
Contact CAB and ask for a benefit check. They'll tell you exactly what they'll get, and will also be able to identify anything else they may be entitled to.

Mojisola

focus888 wrote: »

My parents are currently claiming pension credit for a couple, only my dad is old enough for this.

He will soon be eligible for state pension but then my mum would not be entited to anything

I don't understand this - a couple has to claim as a couple whether they are under pension age or over. What is your mother getting now that will stop?

pmlindyloo

Mojisola wrote: »

I don't understand this - a couple has to claim as a couple whether they are under pension age or over. What is your mother getting now that will stop?

I think the OP was under the impression that the PC would stop so dad would get his state pension but mum would get nothing - ie. wasn't able to receive state pension/not of age.

Now the OP knows PC can continue then there isn't a problem.