ESA Stopped at 65

sammyjammy

Its probably a case that council were automatically informed when the ESA claim was closed, give them a call and explain what has happened, they may have to complete a new income form but it should resolve the matter.

They will have suspended it as they haven't heard from your parents as to a change of circumstances and won't know whether they've won the lottery or something!

tractorgirl1

Thanks sammyjammy, I gave the pension service a call this morning and they said that my dads PC is being stopped 1st of August (As a consequence of my mum now getting a pension and their combined total being more than the minimum)

I'm so awfully confused, if my dad no longer gets pension credit, from my research I read that as they are not entitled to housing benefit?

I'm guessing they are going to get a combined state pension? It's a bit of a mess to be honest, we've had very little written correspondence from the pension service about what my parents are getting and no written notice that my dads PC is being stopped because of my mums claim. All the information I've gotten is through phone calls and it would be handy to have a written breakdown of what they are actually getting, with/without carers addition/pension credit.

calcotti

If they are not receiving Pension Credit then they are no longer automatically entitled to Housing Benefit but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are not entitled to any. They will have to provide council with new income details for them to work out entitlement to both Housing Benefit andCouncil Tax Reduction.

Carer’s addition is part of Pension Credit and will have been taken into account when working out whether there is any Pension Credit payable.

You shouldn’t be alarmed by all of this. If the means tested benefits stop it is because their other income has gone up.

tractorgirl1

Sorry to be a thicko, but what is the difference between "guaranteed pension credit" and "state pension"?

When I run various benefit calculators it spits out they are entitled to "guaranteed pension credit" (and this housing benefit), but my dad gets state pension and pension credit (which presumably is changing as a consequence of my mums new claim).

calcotti

State pension is an amount paid based on national insurance record. Your father gets a state pension. Your mother will now get a state pension. Pension Credit is a means tested benefit to top up your parents joint income. Now that your mother’s income has changed the Pension Credit entitlement has to be recalculated.

EDIT: Typing error which completely changed sense now corrected - thanks antrobus.

antrobus

calcotti wrote: »

.... Your mother will not get a state pension.,,,

Why not?

ESA gets you NI credits.

calcotti

antrobus wrote: »

Why not?

Typing error, stubby fingers on tablet! Meant 'now'!
Have corrected original post

xylophone

The OP may find this very comprehensive fact sheet helpful in explaining Guarantee Pension Credit.

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

I'm guessing they are going to get a combined state pension?

No, each of your parents will receive his/her own state pension.

they have been on benefits most of their adult life (including housing benefit)

State Pension is a benefit (even though people object to the term).

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/11194265/State-pension-is-not-a-benefit-says-minister.html