Pension Credit

True Ana. Just explaining why some have to have pension credit

It's people like you that the safety-net's for, Annie, no one's saying otherwise. Some others seem to be taking the mick though.

As part of society in general the state picks up my shortfall. I worked part time when a single mother , when my daughters were of an age I felt comfortable not being at home in the school holidays etc. Worked full time but then became carer for my parents, never received any allowance for this so save the state the Costs of outside help. When I reached pension age I was not eligible for full retirement pension so receive pension credit to top it up.

I Certsintly didn't spend and enjoy, with the thought of claiming benefits, didn't know of pension credit ,just accepted I would always have a low income , it was my choice, I could have left a five and seven year old on their own and worked full time, I could have told my parents sorry you will have to apply for help I didn't .

I looked at how much savings you could have and still be allowed some credits - was trying to get a cousin to claim - and there was a question asking if you had a second property - that might have been for council tax reduction though as I looked at a couple of sites.

You may be right Rigby64 I didn't go into it in any depth if I'm honest just the basic fact that it was income based, sorry if I've misled anyone.

You'd certainly have to declare it. Perhaps it depends upon whether you let it out at all - can't tell from the gov uk site.

Are people really sure that the value of a second home isn't taken into account when claiming pension credit - it just doesn't make sense

(sorry, that wasn't getting at anyone on this thread, just society in general! )

Then let the state pick up the shortfall and wonder why everyone's complaining about austerity cuts..?

It's a very common approach. Spend whilst you can and enjoy.

Kateykrunch it does unfair but as Ana says its their income that counts not assets or savings , they may have lots of 'stuff' but once their money is gone as you say they have a very low income to live on they may well struggle to juggle everything.

Can't they be treated as still having it if they deliberately deprived themselves of capital to get benefit?

They have very limited income, hence able to claim Pension Credit, but they are asset rich now. I am supposing they made their purchases before claiming.

I don't understand that either tanith. Pension credit is based on income, not what property or actual savings you've got (can't imagine they'd have been getting much interest on the savings they've spent anyway...)

How do people hide income? Surely its calculated on your monthly income when retired so how can you hide pensions/income going into your bank account? Am I terribly naive?

I think there's a lot of this going onKatey it does niggle I agree.