Pension Credit Criteria

Murphybear

SnowWhiterThanWhite said:

Batfemme said:

Hi - I'm new and this is my first post.
I just wanted to get people's thoughts on the above.  I need to apply for Pension Credit as I only have my state pension to live on and my savings are below the threshold of £10,000.  However, I am apparently ineligible for this as I receive the New State Pension of 230.25 per week as a single person and I am told my income is too high!  The cut-off point is £227.10 per week so, for the sake of £3.15 per week above this, I am not entitled to any help.  Considering my Council Tax takes nearly a quarter of my income every month, even the basics of life are not sustainable on what is left!

I'm sure other people must have highlighted this before but it was a nasty shock to me.  I was told the thresholds change every April but will always be below the NSP payments and, if I am not happy with this, I can write to my MP!

When you have worked hard all your life and paid your taxes, this is what faces you - top up your income from your savings until they are all gone, then find yourself a warm doorway and a nice big cardboard box! 

Are you in receipt of any disability benefits like Attendance Allowance or PIP? If so, there is an extra premium allowed on top of yr state pension that would bring you within the pension credit threshold 

That is a good tip.  It worked for me 😺

chrisbur

sheramber said:

Some people could be £1 over the limit and get no help.

It is set as a cliff edge for eligibility. 

That is what the government decided. 

Not really a cliff edge for pension credit.  The pension credit is a variable amount that increases the claimants income to  227.10 for a single person or 346.60 for a couple.  Last year the Winter fuel payment was a cliff edge payment that you either received in full or not at all, and a couple or so other benefits available to those who get pension credit; but pension credit itself is not like that.

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit
EDIT  Details of PC and the other benefits that come with it.

sheramber

It is a cliff edge for the  single person whose income is £228.00. They get nothing.

They  are not eligible for all the extras that PC  gives access to.

So an income of of less than £227.20 . gives more than just making up the income figure.

chrisbur

sheramber said:

It is a cliff edge for the  single person whose income is £228.00. They get nothing.

They  are not eligible for all the extras that PC  gives access to.

So an income of of less than £227.20 . gives more than just making up the income figure.

Totally agree and anyone who does qualify even if the PC they get is quite small the other benefits are worth having.  Details of other benefits are in the link I posted.