benefits options

I've just gone through a 'Pension Credit' calculator and it says he isn't entitled to Pension Credit "because your income or savings are above the maximum allowed for someone in your circumstances".

And then I looked further and this is only for people who get less than £163 per week. But isn't the basic state pension £164 per week?

I put everything at ZERO except for the basic state pension, and it still says this.. What's the point of calling it 'pension credit' if it doesn't help every pensioner...

All this benefits stuff is very confusing.

NeilCr wrote: »

Can you go with your dad to your local CAB/advice centre. They can help you with the benefits and will also know how your local council works.

I don't live anywhere near unfortunately, but will travel down if I have to. I'm hoping that I can make sense of the best options and he can do it himself. He is perfectly capable!

It seems that pension credit is to top up older pensions that are less than the now standard rate. New pensioners are already getting the most they can so it doesn't apply. Or that's what it looks like to me...

xylophone wrote: »

Not everybody who comes under the new system will necessarily be entitled to the full NSP.

What's NSP mean? And how do they break down who is entitled to what?

I'm trying to put together the simplest plan of action necessary. And I don't want to have him call the Pension Credit people if he is absolutely not entitled to anything from them. I am concerned that it will put him off moving on to the housing / council tax benefits, which he is definitely eligible for...

xylophone wrote: »

NSP means New State Pension.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181237/single-tier-pension-fact-sheet.pdf

but the (old) Basic State Pension at introduction of the new system was £119.30 and the NSP was £155.65.

https://www.gov.uk/state-pension

https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension

The Age UK Fact Sheet linked in my post above gives a very full explanation of how PC works.

If your relation does not qualify for PC, his income might still be low enough for him to qualify for some discount on the Council Tax (check the Council's web site) or possibly some help towards rent- again, check the Council's web site.

He has no income except for his pension. I just googled state pension amount and got a figure of £164.50 which is what I used to calculate what other benefits he might be entitled to. But now it seems that he might be getting less than that.

As far as I can tell, he should be entitled to housing benefit and council tax benefit of some sort.