Friend on pension credits

Well they didn’t send it my way Callistomon and that’s my own fault because I didn’t say white rabbits yesterday.

MissAdventure

I expect they've done that "ringfencing" with their savings.

How do you ring fence your savings?

I was wondering because I was going to win £1 million on the Premium Bonds this month but they sent it to someone else.
Zilch, nothing, nada.
Perhaps next month.

Sharina

Just to say: she isn't his carer. He is a pensioner who retired early. He had a stressful job. They are on pension credits. She won't get a "proper" job because she would lose out financially. They are not on universal credits.

So he's pension age then but she is not.

They are not eligible for Pension Credit and they would need details and NI number of both of them before Pension Credit would be paid.

You can claim Pension Credit if you:

Have reached state pension age.
Have a weekly income below £218.15 if you're single, or £332.95 if you're in a couple.
If you're in a couple, you'll BOTH need to have reached state pension age. You don't have to be married or in a civil partnership, you're considered a couple if you live together. For couples, one partner applies and then provides income and savings details for both partners.

I think you should stop being friends with this person ... Because technically you have already stopped being a friend

Sharina

Her husband gets pension credits. He is of pensionable age, now, but was medically unfit before he hit 65. Nowadays, you're supposed to get Universal Credit.

So her husband gets pension credits, not her?

What is the problem please?

So is she refusing to work or is she working cash in hand? You can't have it both ways however much you resent her.

MissAdventure

Complicated, isn't it?
It frustrates me a bit, though, that people seem to think others sit on their backsides, refusing to work, and sticking their hands out for benefits.

She’s clearly working, cleaning IS a proper job. She’s clearly working “under the radar” so should really be self-employed properly via HMRC. I’m a little confused though as to why he’d qualify for pension credits when he’d clearly been working for some years and I’m surprised he has no occupational pension.

It’s all a bit strange tbh

Sharina

Just to say: she isn't his carer. He is a pensioner who retired early. He had a stressful job. They are on pension credits. She won't get a "proper" job because she would lose out financially. They are not on universal credits.

If they are not on UC they must be living pretty frugally - why do you keep saying “she won’t get a job” she has a job and they are not claiming UC. Do they rent or own their house?

Just to say: she isn't his carer. He is a pensioner who retired early. He had a stressful job. They are on pension credits. She won't get a "proper" job because she would lose out financially. They are not on universal credits.

Complicated, isn't it?
It frustrates me a bit, though, that people seem to think others sit on their backsides, refusing to work, and sticking their hands out for benefits.

MissAdventure

Apparently she isn't according to Sharina.

I did read that, but would someone discuss this? You don’t have to be in receipt of carers allowance to be a “carer” in UC terms, however, if the husband was medically retired (very very hard to get) the likelyhood is he is quite unwell and possibly in receipt of attendance allowance.

biglouis

There is a low take up on pension credit for numerous reasons. Pride, ignorence, or having to jump through so many hoops.

Some people are reluctant to claim pension credit because there is an extra stigma involved = the inference that one did not make provision for ones retirement and is therefore feckless. Pensioners who have been frugal and saved in a small occupational pension feel justifiably angry and bitter at being less well off financially than someone who (for whatever reason) has never saved.

It is the sysetm which is utterly corrupt and this encourages dishonesty. This is why people resort to cash in hand working and I do not blame them. I would never grass up someone working cash in hand. I despise snitches and tattle tales.

Your friend/neighbour is foolish for telling others about her financial affairs or the fact that she has a cash in hand job, The less one's neighbours know about one the better.

The issue is the cutoff for many benefits is absolute, ie you either do or don’t meet the criteria.

UC, on the other hand, only available to those of working age ie 18-67, is a tapering benefit. Maybe everything should be judged by this, it’s a lot less black and white than a rigid line.

Apparently she isn't according to Sharina.

MissAdventure

If your friend isn't claiming universal credit, then it is because she is already working.

If she is claiming it, there is no opportunity to refuse, I can assure you.

Unless she’s declaring herself for UC purposes as his carer!

mabon1

I know people who receive Pension Credit but they have many thousands savings, can afford to run a car, go to the cinema and have two holidays a year. My income is just over the limit so nowt for me.

Like the working age benefits system one is allowed declared savings AND claim pension credits.

“ Your savings and investments
If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investments this will not affect your Pension Credit. If you have more than £10,000, every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week. For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week.”

If your friend isn't claiming universal credit, then it is because she is already working.

If she is claiming it, there is no opportunity to refuse, I can assure you.

Do you despise snitches and tattle tales more than people who work the system, at the expense of tax payers? (I'm not going to report her btw. I'm just curious.)

I know. I can only sympathsie.

There is a low take up on pension credit for numerous reasons. Pride, ignorence, or having to jump through so many hoops.

Some people are reluctant to claim pension credit because there is an extra stigma involved = the inference that one did not make provision for ones retirement and is therefore feckless. Pensioners who have been frugal and saved in a small occupational pension feel justifiably angry and bitter at being less well off financially than someone who (for whatever reason) has never saved.

It is the sysetm which is utterly corrupt and this encourages dishonesty. This is why people resort to cash in hand working and I do not blame them. I would never grass up someone working cash in hand. I despise snitches and tattle tales.

Your friend/neighbour is foolish for telling others about her financial affairs or the fact that she has a cash in hand job, The less one's neighbours know about one the better.

I expect they've done that "ringfencing" with their savings.

I know people who receive Pension Credit but they have many thousands savings, can afford to run a car, go to the cinema and have two holidays a year. My income is just over the limit so nowt for me.

If your friend is on universal credit, then refusing to work won't be an option.

Perhaps she isn't claiming it, though.

I don't like people who fiddle the system, when I have to pay taxes.

You're right. I'm just annoyed at how pensioners are having their winter heating taken away, while some people choose not to work. You're right. I will move on. I just needed a mini vent!

I have no idea how much this lady is earning cash in hand "just cleaning " but I do know that I am earning almost twice as much as a self employed cleaner (paying tax, insured, police checked) than I ever was as a NNEB Nursery Nurse having trained at college full time for 2 years and having over 30 years experience. So don't presume she's not making enough money to affect his/her benefits.
They may not be rich but nevertheless it is fraud and it is wrong and I have every sympathy with the OP