Pension Credit waiting time

GardenMad2910

I think it's great that more pensioners are being made aware of pension credit but I think they should have employed more staff to cope with the additional applications.  I applied in April 2024 but I still haven't heard anything apart from an email acknowledging my application.  I've phoned several times and spoken to several very nice people but they are unable to say anything apart from my application is being "processed".  As they haven't even asked for proof of the figures on my application I'm very concerned how much longer it will be before I receive the financial help I need.  Has anyone else had to wait this long?

sheramber

Contact your MP

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/weekly-pension-credit-claims-received-from-1-april-2024-to-1-september-2024/weekly-pension-credit-claims-received-from-1-april-2024-to-1-september-2024

Weekly Pension Credit claims received from 1 April 2024 to 1 September 2024

Week Commencing	Number of Pension Claims received
1 April 2024	3,900
8 April 2024	4,400
15 April 24	4,400
22 April 24	4,200
29 April 24	3,700
6 May 24	3,400
13 May 24	4,100
20 May 24	4,000
27 May 24	3,300
3 June 24	4,200
10 June 24	4,000
17 June 24	3,400
24 June 24	3,200
1 July 24	3,800
8 July 24	4,100
15 July 24	3,300
22 July 24	3,500
29 July 24	7,900
5 August 24	7,300
12 August 24	5,900
19 August 24	8,400
26 August 24	9,000

luvchocolate

Someone posted earlier they waited 13 months to receive it 

brewerdave

luvchocolate said:

Someone posted earlier they waited 13 months to receive it 

That'll help a lot if we have a cold Winter this year !!

Robbie64

brewerdave said:

luvchocolate said:

Someone posted earlier they waited 13 months to receive it 

That'll help a lot if we have a cold Winter this year !!

It might actually help highlight the lengthy wait times people are experiencing awaiting an initial decision on a Pension Credit claim.

Murphybear

luvchocolate said:

Someone posted earlier they waited 13 months to receive it 

That was me.  I spoke to them on the phone and they said they didn’t know why it had taken so long.  I have asked my MP to bring this to their attention.  We’ll see

On the bright side it was nice to get £2,000 (minus a few pence) suddenly appear in my bank account.  

I am hoping for everybody’s sake that this was a one-off hiccup.  

Murphybear

brewerdave said:

luvchocolate said:

Someone posted earlier they waited 13 months to receive it 

That'll help a lot if we have a cold Winter this year !!

Fortunately I live in the “Deep South” of the country in a well insulated property.  Our Housing Association put in brand new state of the art cheaper to run storage heaters last year.  I didn’t need to turn them on in the winter 

GardenMad2910

I'm still waiting to hear about my pension credit application in April 2024.  At the time I didn't apply for help with my rent and rates as I had the vague idea if you were granted pension credit it was easier to apply for rent and rates help  Does anyone know if this is correct and if it is, is that also back dated to the application date?
I can't believe I still haven't heard anything from Pension Credit!
Thanks for all your previous comments. 

Murphybear

GardenMad2910 said:

I'm still waiting to hear about my pension credit application in April 2024.  At the time I didn't apply for help with my rent and rates as I had the vague idea if you were granted pension credit it was easier to apply for rent and rates help  Does anyone know if this is correct and if it is, is that also back dated to the application date?
I can't believe I still haven't heard anything from Pension Credit!
Thanks for all your previous comments. 

It will be backdated from the application date.  If you get Pension Credit you should get the whole amount of your rent/council tax paid.  You should apply for both now rather than waiting until you hear about PC.  

Loobyloo2022

When I submitted my claim it said that I would receive a decision by 9th December. 6th January and I’m still waiting!

NedS

GardenMad2910 said:

I think it's great that more pensioners are being made aware of pension credit but I think they should have employed more staff to cope with the additional applications.  I applied in April 2024 but I still haven't heard anything apart from an email acknowledging my application.  I've phoned several times and spoken to several very nice people but they are unable to say anything apart from my application is being "processed".  As they haven't even asked for proof of the figures on my application I'm very concerned how much longer it will be before I receive the financial help I need.  Has anyone else had to wait this long?

Regarding requesting evidence, I've just submitted an online application for an elderly relative, and it asked for name of bank State Pension is paid into (maybe as a rudimentary form of ID check), and if the applicant was in receipt of any private pensions, together with any other sources of income. DWP should already have records of all pension income as either they are paying it (State Pension), or it is reported to HMRC and shared with DWP in the case of any other private/occupational pension income. They should not need to see bank statements / pension statements.

I have no idea if they ask for proof of savings as part of processing the claim.