Are you over State Pension age with income under £200 per week?

Thanks for posting DaisyAnne and I will check again just in case the criteria for pension credit eligibility has changed. But when I checked a few weeks ago I was informed that anyone in receipt of full state pension is not eligible and that PC was to top up any shortfall. The full state pension is £185.15 a week.

The amount you are quoting is the New State Pension GNW. As I understood, Pension Credit is now a Legacy Benefit and cannot be claimed if you are on (however much of it you receive) the New State Pension.

However, the article on Money Saving Expert was very determined that this applied to those over 66 (although it says 65 in one place). You have confirmed what I thought to be true but hoped had been reviewed. Later today I will try and contact MSE and find out if they have uncovered other ways of claiming. I will get back to the thread but I don't expect they will be easy to contact.

I tried the government website online pension credit calculator this morning DaisyAnne in the hope maybe something had recently changed. No joy. Im not eligible for any pension credit top up as I receive the full New State Pension. I’m almost 68 and due to personal circumstances I unfortunately don’t have an occupational pension.

Mmm. I emailed but got a reply saying they cannot reply to individual questions. I do need to go an do "useful things" elsewhere but I have some thoughts and will get back later.

Apparently, today is Pension Credit day - who knew. I have had some more information sent to me from another source and they, too have not flagged the difference between Old and New SPs. I will keep looking. I am sorry if this raised anyone's hopes but you never know what we might find.

Thank you for your investigative work DaisyAnne. I’m resigned to the fact I’m not eligible for pension credit as I receive the full New State Pension. I may be wrong but I did think that anyone who has a shortfall receives PC to top them up to the full New State Pension level. Maybe another poster in that position will come along and clarify.

That should be the case GNW. I have only ever known and been involved with people who are on the old State Pension who are eligible for Pension Credit. I was told, by some on the New SP, that they cannot claim it. Perhaps, they too were just getting the New SP but nothing more.

There are some benefits that are automatically paid to those eligable for PC. If you are on the edge of it you may well be able to claim. You might not get the whole amount but even a proportion can help. They are:

National Health Low Income Scheme

Housing costs, including support with Council Tax, support with rent, support with mortgage payments and support for some service charges.

If you are a carer it's worth claiming Carers allowance. You cannot get Carer's Allowance if you are getting a State Pension that is more than the amount of the Carers Allowance. However, you can still qualify and they will send a letter confirming your 'underlying entitlement' to Carer’s Allowance. This can be financially beneficial, as it can increase any means-tested benefits you are currently getting. Or it could mean that you become entitled to means-tested benefits for the first time (depending on your and any partner's income and capital).

Up to last year, although you would not be part of the core group, you would be able to claim Warm Home Discount. They have changed the claiming criteria for this year but it would still be worth trying.

I expect you know all this but perhaps it might help someone.

Thank you so much for that helpful info DaisyAnne. I hadn’t heard of the National Health Low Income Scheme and I’m going to look into it.

I did receive the Warm Home Discount last year although I was no longer part of the core group since my entitlement to Carers Allowance had ended the previous year. I qualified under the discretionary criteria of low income and at least 10% of income paid on energy bills. I’m dreading my fixed tariff ending in Sept as I expect it to rise to at least 20% of my pension despite all my cost cutting measures. I will apply for it again this year but suspect due to the change in criteria I won’t get it.

Thank you for taking the time to summarise this helpful information DaisyAnne and I’m sure it will be helpful to others reading it. ?

Dare I say I am closing my eyes and singing very loudly when the autumn rises are commented on. I know I can't do that forever. However, I am doing all I can to spend as little as I can over the summer; I just don't want to cope with the anxiety thinking about it could create. I'm a total coward and pretty fed up that the world is where it is but I can't do anything and helplessness is not a great feeling.

If anyone comes up with any changes, hopefully they will post them straight away and at least some will benefit. The most important thing is to take care of yourself.

I’ve submitted my application to the National Health Low Income Scheme. It was very straightforward to do online. Just simple questions about pension income, council tax and any savings. Anyone with savings in excess of £6k is not eligible to apply. It said the claim will be processed within 18 days and I’ll receive a decision by post. I had never heard of this scheme until you posted about it today DaisyAnne so thank you.

Here is the link for anyone who thinks they might be eligible.

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-income-scheme

It's a long time since I've seen the form but the £6K suprises me as this benefit is automatic for those on Pension Credit and they can have up to £10K without it being counted and up to £16k with every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week.

But who knows how they work these things out. Actually, that's not fair as quite often it does make sense but it is a bit like a treasure hunt.

Good luck with it

I’m so sorry everyone, the savings limit is £16k not 6k. Please ignore me?

I’ve attached a screenshot of the eligibility criteria. If I qualify for it my first appointment will be with the optician to renew these old glasses!

Just a small clarification. On the old SP, and with less than ten k in savings, entitled to Pension Credit which tops up money to
just below the amount of full old SP - NOT right to the same amount. Only a couple of quid per week difference, but at that level of income that couple of quid matters.