Martin Lewis: The one thing everyone aged over 66 needs to know

MSE_Chris_D

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Martin Lewis: The one thing everyone aged over 66 needs to know

Please click 'post reply' to discuss below.

roddydogs

Your getting old?

MalMonroe

roddydogs said:

Your getting old?

*You're . . .  and you're just being facetious. 

Martin_the_Unjust

‘………. and have total weekly income under roughly £200’


It’s about pension credit and this ^ is missing from the click bait headline. 

iainrt

my wife and i are both pensioners. She has income below £200, mine is above. Why are we treated as a couple and not treated individually, as we both have individual pensions ?

Northernlass47

I foolishly worked full-time and managed to get some savings. My income now is low enough to receive Pension Credit as I receive DLA and AA as I have 2 debilitating illnesses, but because I have these savings (not massive) I cannot get Pension Credit. My neighbour has never worked since she was 50 living on benefits, she receives Pension Credits and in the 2 years she has lived here has spent £s  on getting a perfectly good bungalow to how she wanted it. When she got her Attendance Allowance award she not only received it once but again was awarded the same amount onto here Pension Credit. It is so unfair and it is useless me trying to hide my savings, they can be traced.

ollythecollie

Martin was looking for a rhyme.  How about don't decline, get online where decline serves as both turning down the offer and becoming worse off, financially and healthwise, through being cold and hungry.

spaceshuttleliz

I applied for my Mothers Pension Credit on 10th February this year.  You get through to a triage centre first and I have now called them roughly 12 times.  They tell you that they will try to put you through to the Pension Credit Team and that you may have to wait 3 minutes, each time you call.  If they cannot get you through they tell you that they will get one of the PC team to call you back within a specific time frame.  The last time I called them I eventually got through (with persistence) and the guy I spoke to said "I don't know why they tell you we will call you back, it is not our policy to call anyone back".  My Mom is still waiting, she fled an abusive marriage in her 70's, has no money to live on and if she weren't living with me, I don't know what would happen.  5 months we have been waiting.  My Mother is lucky as she does have me, but there are thousands of our elderly folk who have no one  

JennyH_4

My husband and I are both retired pensioners who live on a narrowboat. We don't qualify for pension credit as we have military pensions which put us over the £200.
We are currently in a marina who have already put up the annual fees, which they do every April, but nowhere putting it up again another 3.75% due to their rising costs. We pay for electricity through a meter (meter-mac) so it looks like we're losing out in every direction for any financial assistance!!!! 

Welshcatlady

I applied for Pension Credit at the beginning of April, been told that I am entitled to it, and that is as far as it has got.   When I phone I get told that they are inundated with claims and they are working through them in date order.  I am also told that they will get someone who actually deals with the claims to telephone me within 5 working days, however still nothing, no phone call, no money.  It seems that a wait of over 3 months is an awful long time.  Is there any one who can help me please?  I am telephoning the number on the gov. uk website, 0800 99 1234, is there another number I can use to get me to someone other than the people who just answer the phone and check to see if they have received my claim?  It's all very well Martin saying claim pension credit, but when am I going to get it?

molerat

Contact your MP, that is what you vote them in for.