Welcome to your new board - Pensions & benefits advice

You could start a Warm Front Discount (it's not a benefit) thread with that question "travelsafar". Please do or people will get very fed up with me being around all the time . I am convinced people need easy to find information but I know I can be a bit obsessive with these things as I found it so complicated in the past.

If we have separate headings it will mean people coming in later can find them. Mind you, if you don't agree just say. It's only my way of doing things and everyone may not agree.

Does anyone know the criteria for the Warm Front benefit? Can you also still have the WFA if you get this? Thanks in advance.

Millie22

Excellent news thank you HQ. Only yesterday I was trying to sort out eligibility for pension credit. I thought it might be for us but apparently not any more if only one of a couple is of pension age.

I have started a thread about the changes in claiming for mixed age couples under (I hope!) a clear heading. However, it's a bit dry - just facts. I think it will help future browsers but I do think it would be good if those who have experience added to the thread.

Also, I feel it would be worth adding any knowledge about disability benefits under the name of that benefit. I am trying to work out what we can do for a relative at the moment and finding it such a steep learning curve - yet again.

This is going to be such a helpful thread well done GNHQ.

Thanks to GNHQ for giving us this board. I've always thought GN is at its best when members are helping one another. Benefits are complicated so this may well be one of those areas.

I agree with Cabbie21, that putting topics under (clearly titled) separate threads will help others find them.

So, hoping it's okay with MerylStreep and Franbern, I will start a new thread about maintenance charges

Franbern
I’m absolutely sure. Of course insurance wasn’t paid but service charges were. But thinking about the time this was paid ( 15? years ago) it’s more than likely that with cuts this might have stopped.

MerylStreep

Some years ago I helped a friend sort out her finances. She is on Pension Credit.
She owns her own flat but has to pay Service Charges to the managing agents. I discovered that these charges could be paid as a benefit.

Merylstreep Are you sure about this. I have always understood that the Maintenance Charge in flats are NOT eligible for any benefit assistance.

Great AnnieGransnet much appreciated.
Grannynannywanny Thought i should let you and others know, I've received the Warm Discount for few years but the credit of 140.00 doesn't appear in your account in January, more like end of March.

Thank you GN

Just in case anyone is not aware , as you now have to have more NI years of payments and you have left work to care for a relative , you can apply to have your NI paid even if you are not claiming Carer Allowance. Age UK will be able to help . My brother applied as he left work at 60 to help my 90 year old mum. He didn’t want to claim carer allowance but didn’t have enough NI to get a full state pension when he was 66 .

Excellent news thank you HQ. Only yesterday I was trying to sort out eligibility for pension credit. I thought it might be for us but apparently not any more if only one of a couple is of pension age.

Thank you - it will be an invaluable source of information for us.

Great news , but i suggest putting actual advice or questions into a separate thread, as they will get lost in this one.

Such a useful resource. Thank you Gransnet.

Some years ago I helped a friend sort out her finances. She is on Pension Credit.
She owns her own flat but has to pay Service Charges to the managing agents. I discovered that these charges could be paid as a benefit.

Amazing thank you GN.

I applied online last week for the warm home discount. I’ve attached the link I used which was for British Gas. But most of the main providers participate. It was easy to apply. There are several possible criteria to qualify. Eg attendance allowance, Carer Allowance or low income which I think was under £13,400 p.a. I’m not in receipt of any qualifying benefits but was entitled under the low income category.

I applied online, it only took a few mins. Have your NI number to hand. If successful £140 is credited to your fuel account in January. You can choose gas or electricity account.

www.britishgas.co.uk/energy/energy-saving/warm-home-discount.html

Great idea . Having recently retired I will be reading with interest .

Brilliant idea, so many struggle not knowing what they are entitled to. You can also find benefits calculators online like entitled.to

Brill I will start off.

Remember if you have not reached Pension age yet, you can still apply for the Warm Front Grant (around £140)

You have to fit the entitlement Criteria. Good luck.

Thankyou AnnieGransnet

Thank you

This will be a real help to many. Thank you.

Thank you Gransnet for listening to requests and responding.

I'm sure it will prove useful, thank you.