Are they entitled to pension credit

sleepy14

My friend and her husband are struggling financially. He is in receipt of state pension of £168 a week I think and she gets £30. He is also in receipt of a small occupational pension of £300 every 4 weeks. I have used the online calculator and that said they are entitled to savings credit because they have no savings.

I advised them to claim the married tax allowance which they did, but that is all they will claim. Years ago when he was ill from work they went to CAB but they were seen by someone who wasnt very nice to them and told them they are not entitled to anything. So now even though they are both now receiving their pensions they are reluctant to try for anything else.

Ames

I don't know much about pension credit, but depending on their housing situation they might be able to get some help with rent and council tax.

It's a shame they had a bad experience with CAB. Age UK might be able to do a benefit check for them.

It sounds like the biggest problem will be in convincing them to ask for help though.

McKneff

What is this £30 she is receiving. She should be claiming and receiving at leat 60% of a full pesion, if not in her own right then against her husbands contributions. ?

xylophone

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs48_pension_credit_fcs.pdf

is very comprehensive.

Has she checked whether or not she is entitled to claim a category B pension on his contributions?

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs19_state_pension_fcs.pdf

Tabbytabitha

sleepy14 wrote: »

My friend and her husband are struggling financially. He is in receipt of state pension of £168 a week I think and she gets £30. He is also in receipt of a small occupational pension of £300 every 4 weeks. I have used the online calculator and that said they are entitled to savings credit because they have no savings.

I advised them to claim the married tax allowance which they did, but that is all they will claim. Years ago when he was ill from work they went to CAB but they were seen by someone who wasnt very nice to them and told them they are not entitled to anything. So now even though they are both now receiving their pensions they are reluctant to try for anything else.

Savings credit is for people who do have savings, not for people who don't, as you think.

I agree with others who are questioning why his wife only gets £30 p.w. as her SRP.

p00hsticks

Tabbytabitha wrote: »

Savings credit is for people who do have savings, not for people who don't, as you think.

doesn't having contributed to a private pension count as savings ? gov.uk suggests this is the case;

Savings Credit is an extra payment for people who saved some money towards their retirement, for example a pension.

(https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit)

Tabbytabitha

p00hsticks wrote: »

doesn't having contributed to a private pension count as savings ? gov.uk suggests this is the case;

Savings Credit is an extra payment for people who saved some money towards their retirement, for example a pension.

(https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit)

The OP doesn't say that this is the case, he just talks about a small occupational pension so I didn't think that counted. However I'm happy to be corrected on that.

anmarj

The occ pen is counted towards savings credit, and any tarriff income taken for savings above £10k is counted too

Robin9

How old is she ? She may be too young for a state pension?

Dont forget the Winter Heating Allowance, Warm Home Discount, check the utilities etc.

sheramber

Pension credit tops up the weekly income to £243 for a couple.

Income 168 + 30 + 75 ( 300/4) = 273

so not due any Pension Credit

xylophone

Pension credit tops up the weekly income to £243 for a couple.

Yes, but this is not the whole story.

See the very comprehensive booklet from Age UK linked above.