National service

Marjrie

I'm hoping someone here may be able to offer some guidance.
I have an elderly neighbour (86) who served in the army for 2 years national service, should he be claiming any sort of pension from the Army?
He only has his state pension and some savings, that mean he doesn't get pension credit or savings credit. He dips into the saving every month.
So I was trying to look to see if he is entitled to anything from the army, but I've not been able to find out anything for him.
Was hoping some wise person here may be able to help.

xylophone

He only has his state pension and some savings, that mean he doesn't get pension credit or savings credit. He dips into the saving every month.

Is he absolutely certain that he is not entitled to Pension Credit?

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

https://www.ssafa.org.uk/about-us/how-we-help

Alice_Holt

Just to reinforce xylo's point.

There is no capital limit for a Pension Credit claim. Often people falsely labour under the misapprehension that savings of over £10k disbar a PC Claim. This is not the case.
Instead a tariff income is assumed on savings, the government assumes you receive £1 per week for every £500 of capital you have above £10k.

If his state pension is below c.£167 pw, he should check entitlement with the Age UK calculator:
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/benefits-calculator/

At 86, he may have care needs that entitle him to an Attendance Allowance award:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/attendance-allowance/
If this is the case, then the PC entitlement increases to c.£233 pw.

I would strongly suggest he gets a benefit check:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/

molerat

Military pensions were not paid to anyone who did not serve 22 years prior to1975 and with only 2 years service it would have to be post 1988.