Getting No Help 9 September 2022 at 1:17PM in Benefits & tax credits 9 replies 714 views

JohnMcL

I'm a 70-year-old pensioner. My wife and I are living on my pension of £620 every 4 weeks. We have no other income or savings. Our only help is council tax reduction. We have been turned down for several other types of benefits such as pension credit and universal credit. We have also missed out on the recent cost of living payment as this was given to people on certain benefits that we don't get. Seems strange that if we were receiving benefits, we would be given more money but as we were not in receipt of other benefits we have missed out on the cost-of-living payment. The direct debit for our energy bills is currently 21% of our total income.

Bradden

That sounbds awful! Does your wife not get a pension?

JohnMcL

She is not pension age yet but can't get work. So, we'll keep plodding on. 

Bradden

Can she not claim for UC or other benfits?

poppy12345

JohnMcL said:

She is not pension age yet but can't get work. So, we'll keep plodding on. 

You are known as a mixed aged couple so you're unable to claim pension credit. The only benefit that maybe possible is UC. As it's means tested you'll need to claim as a couple and your state pension will reduce your UC £1 for £1. If you don't claim for help with any rent then your UC will be reduced to zero.

Do any of you claim a disability benefit such as PIP/DLA or AA? Is your wife able to work?

p00hsticks

JohnMcL said:

Seems strange that if we were receiving benefits, we would be given more money but as we were not in receipt of other benefits we have missed out on the cost-of-living payment.

I though that pensioners were getting a £300 cost-of-living payment being distributed along side the existing Winter Fuel Payment of £200? So you will get £500 in total in Winter Fuel Payment this year. If you are a council tax payer living in a Band D or below property in England and Wales then you should have also received the earlier £150 cost-of-living payment distributed by local authorities, and if you have an electricity account you will get anouther £400 rebate over the next six monthls.

That's £1050 in total to help with your fuel bills. It may not be as much as you wanted, but you've hardly 'missed out'.

peteuk

Dont forget the £400 payment on your electricity.

If your wife is not of pensionable age could she not work?

But I get the frustration that those on benefits seemingly are getting payments that put them past your income. 

Rubyroobs

As a mixed ageJohnMcL said:

She is not pension age yet but can't get work. So, we'll keep plodding on. 

Has she worked and paid National insurance contributions in the past 2-3 years? If the answer is yes then has she looked at claiming New style JSA ? It is only paid for 28 weeks but better then nothing?

JohnMcL

Thanks. We'll try that again. She has worked in the last few years and paid National Insurance, but got nowhere with the JSA.
 

poppy12345

JohnMcL said:

Thanks. We'll try that again. She has worked in the last few years and paid National Insurance, but got nowhere with the JSA.
 

To be entitled to New style JSA she will have needed to have worked and paid NI contributions in tax years April 2019 - March 2021. If she has and she's looking for work then she can claim it. It's paid for 6 months. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance