Pension Credit - DWP calls to ask if savings exceed £6k - Why?

Mics_chicks_Mic

I had a phone call from a friend the other day.  Aparrently someone from the DWP had called to check if her savings exceeded £6k.  As I look after her finances she told them that she didn't know, and they said fine and goodbye.  Firstly, I'm worried that this is some scammer on a fishing trip; secondly, if it was the DWP (who last time I tried were not accepting any calls except non-payment and new claim problems), I'm wondering what blunder I've made as we cut back to save for a new boiler and then went with an interest free loan instead, and she now has over £6k in savings.
She is 78 and gets the high rate care and the high rate mobility DLA, State pension, Pension Credit and has Pension Credit guarantee.
I've looked online but can't see why any savings should be a problem.  What am I missing?

calcotti

The threshold above which savings affect Pension Credit is £10,000 not £6,000 so it seems unlikely that DWP would be asking bout savings over £6,000.
If savings are over £10,000 Pension Credit would reduce by £1/week for every £500, or part thereof, over £10,000.

Mics_chicks_Mic

Cheers Calcutta - thx for the post - I’d read that on the internet when trying to make sense of this and couldn’t’ understand why the DWP would ask this.
I advised my friend that if anyone calls again that they give them my phone number as I have facts and figures to hand - it also gives me a chance to sus them out if they call - failing that I always advise her to tell people to put it in writing and mail to her.

poppy12345

Mics_chicks_Mic said:

I advised my friend that if anyone calls again that they give them my phone number

This wouldn't help because DWP wouldn't ring you, even if it wasn't a scam, unless you are their appointee but if you were DWP wouldn't even be ringing the claimant anyway.

Mics_chicks_Mic

Becoming appointee sounds a good idea - I did that with my mum and get all letters sent straight to me. In the meantime a fall back of telling people to put things in writing seems best.

poppy12345

Mics_chicks_Mic said:

Becoming appointee sounds a good idea -

You should only do this if they are mentally incapable or severly disabled and unable to manage their own claim.

TELLIT01

poppy12345 said:

Mics_chicks_Mic said:

I advised my friend that if anyone calls again that they give them my phone number

This wouldn't help because DWP wouldn't ring you, even if it wasn't a scam, unless you are their appointee but if you were DWP wouldn't even be ringing the claimant anyway.

The OP doesn't need to become an appointee.  The claimant can give DWP permission to speak to a 3rd party on their behalf.  Ask DWP to place an entry on the claim with the name and phone number of that 3rd party (the OP in this case)

Pollycat

Mics_chicks_Mic said:

Becoming appointee sounds a good idea - I did that with my mum and get all letters sent straight to me. In the meantime a fall back of telling people to put things in writing seems best.

poppy12345 said:

You should only do this if they are mentally incapable or severly disabled and unable to manage their own claim.

From GOV.UK:

You can apply for the right to deal with the benefits of someone who cannot manage their own affairs because they’re mentally incapable or severely disabled.

When I applied on my Dad's behalf (he had dementia), we had a visit from DWP who checked that he was indeed incapable of managing his own affairs.

xylophone

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

She is 78 and gets the high rate care and the high rate mobility DLA, State pension, Pension Credit and has Pension Credit guarantee.

Do you mean that she has Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit?

Or GC and an assessed income period?

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/assessed-income-period

Pollycat

Mics_chicks_Mic said:

Becoming appointee sounds a good idea - I did that with my mum and get all letters sent straight to me. In the meantime a fall back of telling people to put things in writing seems best.

When I was made appointee for my dad, it wasn't just a case of having all letters sent to me.

His benefits were at that time paid into his and Mum's joint back account.

I was told that I should set up a bank account in my name for the benefits to be paid into.

I'm not sure how being an appointee works if you want to opt for an alternative payment method (if that is even possible).

 From what the OP says, it's by no means sure that the OP's friend cannot manage their own affairs because they’re mentally incapable or severely disabled.

Dullville said:

Well said TELLIT01, glad you corrected all the wrong information given by the usual know all posters who think they are never wrong!

What information that has been given is wrong?

poppy12345

Pollycat said:

Mics_chicks_Mic said:

Becoming appointee sounds a good idea - I did that with my mum and get all letters sent straight to me. In the meantime a fall back of telling people to put things in writing seems best.

When I was made appointee for my dad, it wasn't just a case of having all letters sent to me.

His benefits were at that time paid into his and Mum's joint back account.

I was told that I should set up a bank account in my name for the benefits to be paid into.

I'm not sure how being an appointee works if you want to opt for an alternative payment method (if that is even possible).

 From what the OP says, it's by no means sure that the OP's friend cannot manage their own affairs because they’re mentally incapable or severely disabled.

When i become an appointee for my daughter i had a home visit from a DWP representative. The form was filled out while they were here and i gave my own bank details for the money to go into. When my daughters PIP money is recieved i transfer some to her and keep the rest in a savings account in my name. If i sent the whole amount to her she would spend it all within a few days lol. If she needs more, i just transfer it.