Pension Credit information

krs1958

Morning,

I applied to DWP to claim my State pension in April by phone. I got my conformation letter within 10 days. (I reach 66 in Mid August)

On the same day I applied for Pension credits again by phone. I get the maximum pension but as I claim PIP I can apply for Pension Credits. I got conformation that I was entitled to the claim because of PIP. As yet I haven’t received conformation in writing from the DWP.

If anyone can help me with the process then that would be a help. Maybe I won’t get notified until after I receive my pension.

poppy123456

Claiming PIP doesn't automatically entitle you to Pension Credit. Whether there's any entitlement will depend on your circumstances.

If you're a single person and live alone or treated as living alone then you'll be entitled to Severe disability Premium, unless someone claims either Carers Allowance or carers element of Universal Credit for looking after you. This will increase your maximum weekly income by £81.50.

If you live with a partner that's younger than you then as a mixed aged couple you will not be able to claim.

There's a pension credit calculator here that you can use. https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator

There's long delays with PC claims at the moment still and you could be waiting anything up to about 5 or 6 months to hear anything.

krs1958

Thank you for the information.

Dipsydee

I am thinking of applying for pension credit. Do you know how many months of bank statements they will want. There's me and my partner so I suppose it will be the same amount for his statements too.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/948554#Comment_948554

You will only be able to apply if both of you are state pension age and above (or are reaching state pension age within the next 4 months)

They only ask for bank statements if your capital is more than £10,000.

Have you used a benefits calculator to check if you may qualify? If not, there's one here.

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator

Dipsydee

Thanks Poppy. I haven't checked the calculator yet. My partner is getting his state pension. He gets £455.04 every four weeks.

I get £804.40 four weekly and I also receive enhanced pip on both elements. No-one receives carers allowance for either of us.

I have 3 small private pension pots. 1 has about £95 in, 1 has about £1,018 in, and the other has £4,670 in.

Because these are quite small, I'm thinking about withdrawing it all and paying for our funeral plans.

I'm not sure how this all affects pension credit and or tax rates, etc.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/948764#Comment_948764

Does your partner claim a disability benefit such as PIP daily living, DLA mid/high rate care or AA? if not then there may not be any entitlement to PC but please use the benefits calculator I linked to above and it will tell you.

The small pensions you have will be treated as notional income, even if you don't have any income from them. If you withdraw them all then it's treated as capital, which is disregarded if you have a total of less than £10,000.

Dipsydee

My partner isn't on any other benefits and we have no other income.

So are you saying that even if I leave my pensions where they are for now and don't take anything from them, then a calculation would be made from the pot to say that I have x amount per week/month as an income.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/948812#Comment_948812

Yes, that's correct because once you reach state pension age you are expected to take the income from the pensions.

Dipsydee

So if I take it all out and spend it on funeral/s (or whatever) then only benefits and state pension is calculated as income.

I wasn't sure if i withdrew it, it is still included as income, even though I, either don't have it or it would be capital. (because it's what I would've had).

poppy123456

Lump sums are treated as capital, not income. You should still use the benefits calculator I provided because as I advised, based on your joint income (not included your private pensions) there may still no entitlement to PC.

Dipsydee

Ok, thank you. Have a good day.