Pension credit confusion 🤯

Leeannl2003

Im trying to help my mum, she's 69 and receives basic state pension and a small works pension her husband is 60 and still works but im unsure if she is eligible for the pension credit as she retired over 6 years ago due to ill help(she also gets pip) but shd applied for universal credit and it said she wasn't entitled to anything they own their house also. Does she put claim in for pension credit and is it for single person claim only as shes the only pension age person. Also some3told her that her husband should have claimed universal credits as single person too and not as couple as it was asking about work criteria for mum at age 69. They are really struggling as they still have to pay full dental and optical care and they dont have much coming in at all and dont qualifying for any cost of living payment either

MallyGirl

Leeannl2003 said:

Im trying to help my mum, she's 69 and receives basic state pension and a small works pension her husband is 60 and still works but im unsure if she is eligible for the pension credit as she retired over 6 years ago due to ill help(she also gets pip) but shd applied for universal credit and it said she wasn't entitled to anything they own their house also. Does she put claim in for pension credit and is it for single person claim only as shes the only pension age person. Also some3told her that her husband should have claimed universal credits as single person too and not as couple as it was asking about work criteria for mum at age 69. They are really struggling as they still have to pay full dental and optical care and they dont have much coming in at all and dont qualifying for any cost of living payment either

This is probably better raised in the benefits board - I will see if it can be moved. I am pretty sure that you should not apply for single person if you are not single.
You could also try one of the benefits checkers like https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

poppy12345

As a mixed aged couple they will not be able to claim Pension Credit. The only other benefit they could claim is UC but because it's means tested they need to claim as a couple. Your mum's state pension and works pension will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. As her partner is also working then this would also reduce their UC. Depending on the earnings the husband receives each month and your mum's state pension and private pension figures they may not be any entitlement to UC.

As your mum is above state pension age she will be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payments

Spoonie_Turtle

Leeannl2003 said:

They are really struggling as they still have to pay full dental and optical care and they dont have much coming in at all and dont qualifying for any cost of living payment either

They can apply for the NHS Low Income Scheme but with state and work pension plus income from work and no rent it's quite possible they wouldn't qualify for any help there either.  But worth applying, just in case.

UC will increase by 10% next April so they could maybe do another benefit calculation then.  

What rate of PIP does your Mum get?  If it includes enhanced daily living she would automatically have LCWRA, which would give a work allowance from the start and extra money from the 4th month.  Plus the carer element if she gets either daily living rate, and their max entitlement would be £1154.74 at the new 2023 rates.  With the work allowance of £631 it may be possible there'd be some entitlement left, depending on how much exactly they have coming in every month.  (At current rates, £1048.61 max entitlement with £573 work allowance.)
If she gets standard daily living she'd automatically have LCW which gives no extra money but still the work allowance.

Do you know how much her pensions are per week? And how much does her husband earn per month?  

sevenhills

Leeannl2003 said:

Im trying to help my mum, she's 69 and receives basic state pension and a small works pension her husband is 60 and still works but im unsure if she is eligible for the pension credit as she retired over 6 years ago due to ill help(she also gets pip) but shd applied for universal credit and it said she wasn't entitled to anything they own their house also. Does she put claim in for pension credit and is it for single person claim only as shes the only pension age person. Also some3told her that her husband should have claimed universal credits as single person too and not as couple as it was asking about work criteria for mum at age 69. They are really struggling as they still have to pay full dental and optical care and they dont have much coming in at all and dont qualifying for any cost of living payment either

Perhaps they need financial advice?
Mum is getting the state pension, a small private pension and PIP; her husband is working and they own their own house, why are they struggling?

You should check their bank statements to see if everything is in order, maybe they are being fleeced.

Pollycat

sevenhills said:

Leeannl2003 said:

Im trying to help my mum, she's 69 and receives basic state pension and a small works pension her husband is 60 and still works but im unsure if she is eligible for the pension credit as she retired over 6 years ago due to ill help(she also gets pip) but shd applied for universal credit and it said she wasn't entitled to anything they own their house also. Does she put claim in for pension credit and is it for single person claim only as shes the only pension age person. Also some3told her that her husband should have claimed universal credits as single person too and not as couple as it was asking about work criteria for mum at age 69. They are really struggling as they still have to pay full dental and optical care and they dont have much coming in at all and dont qualifying for any cost of living payment either

Perhaps they need financial advice?
Mum is getting the state pension, a small private pension and PIP; her husband is working and they own their own house, why are they struggling?

You should check their bank statements to see if everything is in order, maybe they are being fleeced.

This is a good point.
Or are they in debt and that is where their money is going?
Or are they still paying the mortgage?
On gov.uk there are benefits checkers that give you an idea of what benefits you might be entitled to - if any.

If they are struggling and aren't entitled to any benefits, you might think about (with their permission) posting on the debt free wannabe board with a SOA (statements of affairs) so people can advise where expenditure could be reduced.

Leeannl2003

no they dont have any debts or credit cards etc, they are mortgage free in 5 years, stepdad is just on minimum wage and 38 hours per week and mum gets £142 per week state pension but council tax is band D and they pay full rate mortgage is around £450 per month gas and electric is £350/£400 per month the only luxury they have if you can call it that is my step dad has a car but he needs that for work and to get my mum from A to B but its not on finance and fully paid

calcotti

Use a benefits calculator to check whether there is any UC entitlement.

https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

UC would include a standard couple allowance, you could get carer element for looking after your wife (provided she gets the Daily Living part of PIP) and she may get LCWRA element As a pensioner she should automatically be treated as having LCWRA if she gets enhanced rate Daily Living PIP, if not she will have to have a Work Capability Assessment.

Her pension income is deducted in full.

If she has LCWRA the first £573/month of his earnings would be ignored and a 55% deduction made for anything over this.

sevenhills

Leeannl2003 said:

no they dont have any debts or credit cards etc, they are mortgage free in 5 years, stepdad is just on minimum wage and 38 hours per week and mum gets £142 per week state pension but council tax is band D and they pay full rate mortgage is around £450 per month gas and electric is £350/£400 per month the only luxury they have if you can call it that is my step dad has a car but he needs that for work and to get my mum from A to B but its not on finance and fully paid

I manage on just my own wage, similar, I have five years left on my mortgage, but I only pay £300 mortgage. With those large energy bills too, it must be a large house.
If it just two people living in a large house, could that heating bill be reduced by better insulation or maybe they could take in a lodger.
But they are better off than me, there could be saving to be made somewhere, if they are struggling.

poppy12345

Minimum wage of 38 hours/week, plus her state pension and her private pension, would likely see any UC be reduced to zero. UC would include standard couples allowance £525.72, LCWRA element (if entitled) £354.28, carers element £168.81. Maximum UC entitlement would be £1048.81. Even with the higher work allowance, it's still likely to be reduced to zero because of income.

Kim1965

So their weekly income is minimum wage circa £362, state pension £148, pip?, ill health pension?.
 Could they perhaps sell and move to a smaller house, with lower heating and council tax. The down size could see them mortgage free. Might be better than struggling.