Pension Credits, WFA and other websites

Edinburghlass_2

Winter Fuel Allowance

Pension Credits are payable to top up the State Pension to (from April) £124 per week. Even if its only a small amount that you are entitled to claim this can lead on to other benefits so its well worth looking into.

Pension Credits

The free bus pass covering the whole of England is coming into force in April, this is already available in Wales and Scotland but please check your local area to see if you need a new pass and if you are traveling elsewhere its best to check that area to see if there are any restrictions.

Free Bus Travel and Concessions

You can also buy a Rail Card for a third off rail tickets, cost £24.

Senior Rail Card

Finally everyone, no matter their age should read Martin article Benefits Check Up

From Martin's article...

The most disturbing group who fail to claim are pensioners, many of whom are entitled to the Pension credit. Of course any pensioner reading this should be sorted, but some, especially older pensioners are disenfranchised from information due to lack of web access – so if you know someone where that's the case, why not ask them if they've checked out their benefits and if not doing the simple five minute process for them to check they're not missing out.


This is not a discussion thread about who should or shouldn't be claiming as Martin points out in this thread, please use the Discussion Board for discussion but do please ask your questions on your entitlement in this thread.

Edinburghlass_2

Who is eligible?


If you're aged 60 or above

If you're aged 60 or above, or within four months of your 60th birthday, and living in Great Britain, you may be entitled to the 'Guarantee Credit' element (which guarantees a minimum income if you're on a low income) if either of the following applies to you:

• you're single and your weekly income is below £119.05
• you have a partner or civil partner and your joint weekly income is below £181.70

But you might get more Pension Credit if you have caring responsibilities, are severely disabled or have certain housing costs.

EdInvestor

Offers a one-stop shop on care options, finance, your rights to govt help ,etc. Good sponsors and well overdue. One suspects they will be overwhelmed.

http://www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk/


Observer article

jeannieblue

Thank you - another good link for me to pass on.

Errata

PLEASE COULD THIS BE MADE A STICKY

http://www.barchester.com/Care-home-guide

This is not the definitive guide to choosing a Care Home but it goes a long, long way to addressing the problems of choosing a Care Home. It covers many of the questions that are so frequently posted on the Silver Savers board.

Although at the time I was working in the field of health and social care the guide certainly answers many of the questions I had when I had to find a place for my mum who had dementia, and just a couple of years later for my stepdad.

KatieBoo_2

WhereforCare -I found this site when I got a leaflet through my door- I wrote a review of my daughter's nursery, but they also have lots of info and some reviews about carehomes as well. As far as I could see by being nosy, there's no cost involved for the carehomes to put thier info on either, so you'd hope it wouldn't be biased about what gets wriiten about places.

akarki

I am having the state pension - i am 65 - and now my husband, who's points contributed to my pension, wants to divorce. Somebody knows if i will get the pension after divorce?

seven-day-weekend

Yes arkaki, you will continue to get the Pension after divorce.

(You might be better to sart your own thread)