Pension Credit

Silvertabby

Do you live alone?  Have you investigated the possibility of being entitled to claim  housing/council tax benefits?

xylophone

I can always apply for a bus pass but no doubt be refused as not on Pension Credit! 

You have indicated that you are now at SPA.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-elderly-person-bus-pass

If you live in England or Wales

In England you can get a bus pass for free travel when you reach the State Pension age.

If you live in London, you can travel free on buses, tubes and other transport when you’re 60, but only within London.

In Wales you can get a bus pass when you reach 60.

Enter your postcode to:

• apply for a bus pass from your local council
• check if you can get one sooner

I am so fortunate to have my income reduced to the overwhelming amount of £876 per month which of course will cover my rent, massive increase in cost of living etc.

If the state pension is your only income (it seemed from your first post that you also have earnings). or if even with pension and earnings your income is modest, then presumably you may be eligible for some housing benefit/council tax reduction etc.

Have you actually checked ?

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=0e527730-6ec7-4cdb-bc24-2d9ed64240dc

GibbsRule_No3.

Don’t all SP age people get a free bus pass when they reach SP age?  London you can get one at 60 at present for a small fee and then get the age related one at 66.  It sounds like you need to find out why you are eligible for a slightly higher than the basic SP for the other benefits you say you are losing out on, have you checked the rent credit allowance?

Altior

Entitled does seem the appropriate website link. 

sevenhills

kimbettylloyd said:

This is completely unfair and I am going to be in major financial difficulties because the Government have forced me into poverty. Is there anything that can be done to raise the Pension Credit threshold in line with the new pension payments? Just to add I have no savings, private pension or any other assets

It is unfortunate for people that have been unable to save throughout their entire life.
I believe around 60% own their own house, some will likely have a works pension or savings, so people that are in such a situation must be in single figures.

sheramber

kimbettylloyd said:

OK I understand that, but it's not fair that I am now not allowed to have the benefits I was entitled to that you get when you are on UC & pension credit. I am on a low income and am leaving work next week due to health reasons. What I am trying to understand is not the actual money you get on Pension Credit it's the other support that goes with it i.e dental/eye care etc, energy help how are people supposed to afford that after rent/bills etc. You are not entitled to any support at all if you are not on Pension Credit

Check if you can get help with NHS costs

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-if-youre-eligible-help

kimbettylloyd

Thank you, I was, I had a HC2 certificate that's expired, and have applied to have it renewed, probably be refused as not on pension credit! 

xylophone

probably be refused as not on pension credit! 

Are you (as my mother used to say) "crying before you're hurt"?

You made a similar comment about the bus pass - see my post above.

And have you checked the assistance available to state pensioners on modest income?

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/nhs-low-income-scheme-over-60s

kimbettylloyd

I have checked out numerous websites since my birthday.
I would like to say, I  have worked hard all my working life(hence the increased pension amount) I feel I am being vilified for asking for help in my situation, I am not a freeloader or a scrounger, nobody  knows my personal circumstances or the reasons why I am in such a dire situation now, I was simply trying to understand why when I netted a salary the same as the state pension I will be getting and that was deemed as a low income so was entitled to universal credit which topped up my income, I was just able to scrape by on that now it's disappeared because I've retired and I'm terrified as I won't be able to pay my bills etc. 

sammyjammy

Nobody has vilified you as far as I can see, you are focusing on the non entitlement to pension credit and people are trying to say there are other ways of getting assistance, you can still claim housing benefit/council tax benefit via your local council and the HC2 and bus pass have already been mentioned.  The HC2 is for those on lower incomes who don't get free eye tests/prescriptions via means tested benefits.