Pension Credit

sevenhills

kimbettylloyd said:

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)

We are all responsible for ourselves, not the government. You will be getting a higher state  pension than myself.
So you haven't done too bad.

kimbettylloyd

I'll be worse off  so exited! 

pinnks

Have you run your situation through the PC calculator? Pension Credit calculator - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

You say you are leaving work on health grounds.  Might you qualify for PIP and/or the PC uplift?  Not my area of knowledge but someone on here might know more.

p00hsticks

kimbettylloyd said:

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. 

I know it's no help to you now, but this is why there are now rules making it compulsory for employers to offer and contribute to a pension scheme for their employees, and make it the default position for an employee to be in it. 
  

kimbettylloyd

Thank you, yes always come up against the brick wall of PC threshold.
I have am aware of the limited help not being on PC
I wanted to bring this to the attention of Martin Lewis as I believe it's a loophole that has been bought in to cut down on the additional Government benefits offered if your on PC which is a life line to a many people who are really struggling in these hard times. If your not on it, you might get help with rent & council tax but nothing else like food, energy cost etc that is on offer only if your on PC. I think the additional benefits you get on PC should be means tested according to individual circumstances and be assessed to see if they can receive further help/support etc 

p00hsticks

kimbettylloyd said:

Thank you, yes always come up against the brick wall of PC threshold.
I have am aware of the limited help not being on PC
I wanted to bring this to the attention of Martin Lewis as I believe it's a loophole that has been bought in to cut down on the additional Government benefits offered if your on PC which is a life line to a many people who are really struggling in these hard times. If your not on it, you might get help with rent & council tax but nothing else like food, energy cost etc that is on offer only if your on PC. I think the additional benefits you get on PC should be means tested according to individual circumstances and be assessed to see if they can receive further help/support etc 

Martin is only a figure head on these boards now - he sold the site a number of years back. If you want to highlight an issue for him to address I think you would be better getting in touch via his various personal media outlets (twitter etc ?) or via his TV show. Or alternatively you could write to your MP P

Having said that, the 'cliff edge' nature of Pension Credit and the associated passported benefits such as dental care etc comes up frequently on these boards and elsewhere. While there is always going to be a place for means tested benefits in retirement, the amount to qualify for PC is quite deliberately set so that those receiving the full new State Pension amount or more don't qualify for it. 

QrizB

kimbettylloyd said:

I would like to say, I  have worked hard all my working life

If you have been employed for your entire working life, you should (for the last few years, at least) have been automatically enrolled in your employer's pension scheme and be entitled to an occupational pension.

xylophone

If you have been employed for your entire working life, you should (for the last few years, at least) have been automatically enrolled in your employer's pension scheme and be entitled to an occupational pension.

OP says

Just to add I have no savings, private pension or any other assesets

It would appear that the OP is continuing to work after state pension age so will be receiving a salary (presumably modest) as well as SP.

I was flabbergasted to discover that I am not eligable for pension credit as the new pension is £20 more than the £201 threshold. So I have had my UW taken away and will be made to pay tax on my earnings. 

TadleyBaggie

xylophone said:

It would appear that the OP is continuing to work after state pension age so will be receiving a salary (presumably modest) as well as SP.

It appears not, they said they were stopping working due to ill health.

kimbettylloyd

Yes, I've tried to keep working but have severe degenerative oestioarthritus  in  both my thumb joints so am working my notice as it's a physical job, I am not entitled to SP