Pension Credits

angel5

Hi everyone! My mum is 79 and I know she doesn’t receive the full state pension. She does get a payment monthly from my late dads pension. I’ve been trying to get her to apply for pension credits as I know this would be a gateway to other benefits such as a free TV licence. I would just like to confirm that applying for this can’t make anything worse for her though?  So they can’t reduce her pension or anything on the basis of her application. 

Thanks for your help…my knowledge of these things is minimal!! 

calcotti

The Pension Credit simply depends on the totally of her total pension income.
https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator

Does she claim Council Tax Reduction?

angel5

Thanks for your reply. No I don’t believe she receives any discount on her council tax. 

My brother does live with her however but he is not financially dependent on her. 

We’re also in Scotland so not sure if that makes and difference. 

I guess I just wanted to make it clear to her that she has nothing to lose by doing the calculator and applying if it says she’s eligible. The worst that can happen is that she’s not eligible or they say no. 

Rubyroobs

She has nothing to lose. You can go onto the Age Uk benefits calculator to see if she would qualify. It would just save going through the application on the phone or online if she doesn't qualify.

Alice_Holt

Also:

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/benefits-calculator/

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/pension-credit/

angel5

Thanks all. I will go through the calculator with her and hopefully she will be eligible. 

With her rising gas costs anything would help right now. 

angel5

Hi all. I’ve done the government calculator which estimates my mum would get 0.32p a week pension credit. Is it even worth claiming this? I wasn’t sure if they would even accept an application for such a small amount. I’m also terrified I get her to apply for this tiny amount and they then reduce her income some other way. She does only get her state pension and a private pension though. And receives her winter fuel allowance. I’m just wary of giving her bad advice!! Thanks!! 

HillStreetBlues

angel5 said:

Hi all. I’ve done the government calculator which estimates my mum would get 0.32p a week pension credit. Is it even worth claiming this? I wasn’t sure if they would even accept an application for such a small amount. I’m also terrified I get her to apply for this tiny amount and they then reduce her income some other way. She does only get her state pension and a private pension though. And receives her winter fuel allowance. I’m just wary of giving her bad advice!! Thanks!! 

YES
For example if she lives alone she would get full council tax paid

Her income can't be reduced elsewhere as the reason for PC in that her income is below the minimum.

angel5

Thanks HillStreetBlues….she is very keen to get a free TV licence too which I believe she’d get also on pension credits.
Thanks for putting my mind at ease!! 

HillStreetBlues

angel5 said:

Thanks HillStreetBlues….she is very keen to get a free TV licence too which I believe she’d get also on pension credits.
Thanks for putting my mind at ease!! 

Free dental treatment (if she can find an NHS dentist), free glasses (or voucher towards an more expensive pair)
That's a couple more I can think of, there will be more.

Sarahspangles

Does Pension Credit also trigger the Cold Weather payment, or mean that it is paid at a higher rate?