92 year old dad saying he needs to reapply for his pension

PinkCristal

Hi all, my dad has been receiving state pension for years (he's 92!). He just phoned me to say he's heard that rules are changing and he needs to reapply for his pension otherwise he will lose it. I can't find any information about that. I doubt this is the case but dad is usually pretty switched on, so I thought I'd better check! Can anyone help please? Thanks!

Grumpy_chap

PinkCristal said:

Hi all, my dad has been receiving state pension for years (he's 92!). He just phoned me to say he's heard that rules are changing and he needs to reapply for his pension otherwise he will lose it. I can't find any information about that. I doubt this is the case but dad is usually pretty switched on, so I thought I'd better check! Can anyone help please? Thanks!

Has he perhaps mis-heard the various articles about applying for Pension Credit?

daveyjp

He's probably heard about the increase in pension credit applications as this assessment is needed to receive winter fuel payment.

Kat78MFW

Could it be a scam message that he's received? 

barnstar2077

I thought scam too.  I've been getting texts telling me to apply now if I want one of the available winter fuel allowance slots, with a dubious link of course! 

maman

I wasn't aware of the scams but I know the government has been trying hard to encourage anyone eligible to apply for pension credit. If it applies to him then your dad needs to be sure he uses official ways. Well done for being alert to it. 

Aretnap

If he does apply for pension credit make sure he does so through the official gov.uk website

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim

And not through an advert on Google, or worse a link in a spam text he was sent or an advert in social media etc.

Misslayed

I’ve had 4 emails telling me I need to resubmit all my details to my government account,or I will lose my ‘age pension’. But it’s (allegedly) from the Australian government. Perhaps someone he knows has had a similar one?

p00hsticks

DWP do sometimes write to State Pension recipients, especially if they live abroad, asking them to confirm that they are still alive,  and will potentially stop the pension if they do not get a response. 

But from the OP this sounds as if their father has just heard something on the grapevine, rather than had any personal communication from DWP

FlorayG

No way
he will get an official letter if he needs to do that
Check his source carefully as he may have had a scammer contact him