Higher and Lower rate of State Pension,. This really needs changing

\think the bit about free dental care is laughable in many parts of the country, as it only applies if attending the dentist as an NHS patient. As great swathes of the UK there are absolutely NO NHS dentists, it means that anyone, whether or not in receipt of pension credit has to pay full wack for private dental treatment.

Even with glasses, Pension Credit may give money off the main eye test, however, specs still hve to be apid for as does any additional eye tests.

Like a lot of benefits, they always seem so much more than they actually are.

But good that those older pensioners in rreceipt of lower rate (and no other pension), can get top-up to nearly tghat of higher rate.

The pension credit top up will entitle them to other benefits such as winter fuel allowance, free dental care, free glasses etc. The folk whose income is solely their new state pension are the ones who will be hit hardest.

It would probably have been simpler and may have been cheaper to do away with a lot of these additions and give every state pensioner, whatever their age, the same decent State Pension.

The present chaotic mix of systems must cost a lot in administration too.

Pension Credit is a variable amount which should take your income up to the amounts mentioned above.

Yes Allira my friend finds herself in that frustrating position. When I posted I was taking a simplistic view and comparing like with like.

A pensioner on the old rate and the other with new state pension and neither with an occupational pension. The person on the old rate should receive the pension credit top up to the new rate which then leaves them in a better position financially than the person on the new rate. Unless I’ve got it all wrong and if so I’m happy to be corrected 😊

The pension credit top up will entitle them to other benefits such as winter fuel allowance, free dental care, free glasses etc. The folk whose income is solely their new state pension are the ones who will be hit hardest .

Franbern

Does anyone know, for definite, if pensioners on lower rate can get Pension Credit to top up to Higher rate? I have searched and searched for an answer to this, but nothing on the Pension information mentions this.

Surely if this is the case, then all those Pensioners on the lower rate should be informed and told to make that PC application immediately..

Franbern

Pension Credit tops up:

your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single
your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner

The full weekly amount of the new State Pension in the UK for 2024 to 2025 is £221.20.

Does anyone know, for definite, if pensioners on lower rate can get Pension Credit to top up to Higher rate? I have searched and searched for an answer to this, but nothing on the Pension information mentions this.

Surely if this is the case, then all those Pensioners on the lower rate should be informed and told to make that PC application immediately..

Grannynannywanny

Excuse me if I’ve got it wrong. Will pensioners whose only income is the old state pension not be entitled to pension credit to top it up to new state pension rate? So they will still be entitled to the winter fuel allowance.

Yes, but many receive small occupational pensions which takes them just above the eligibility cut-off point.

The Department of Work and Pensions is a complicated mess. For example, you could ring up and ask 3 members of staff (providing a few have gone back to the office) the same question and get 3 different answers. The entire process is scrambled and their own employees find it difficult to understand as one of them informed me during a recent phone call. I was born in 1948 so I am one of those who have £3k a year less to live on. It needs an overhaul but then so does everything else in this country, so I won't hold my breath.

Poppyred

Those on the lower rate were able to retire 6years (!!)before the ones on the higher rate and are able to get pension credit if you don’t have an occupational/private pension as well.

We WASPIs had to work another SIX years for the same state pension and the higher amount reflects this. Imagine having to work for so much longer if you have ill health and struggling!!

Those on the new system had to wait longer before receiving their State Pension but many who retired at age 60 (65 for men of course) could not continue to work as compulsory retirement age was not abolished until 2011.

Older pensioners, women in particular, were therefore forced to live on a much reduced income and/or any savings they may have for much longer.
Men are disadvantaged as not only did they work until 65, they are now on a lower SP than others who retire now at 66.

At some age point, those who receive the new SP will be overtaking those on the old SP in value of pension paid. Older pensioners are most at risk of poverty.

The whole system is unfair.

Poppyred

Those on the lower rate were able to retire 6years (!!)before the ones on the higher rate and are able to get pension credit if you don’t have an occupational/private pension as well.

We WASPIs had to work another SIX years for the same state pension and the higher amount reflects this. Imagine having to work for so much longer if you have ill health and struggling!!

I had to retire on ill health at 59. I was a WASPI and had to wait seven years to get my state pension.
I had no intention of retiring, so when I did eventually get my occupational pension, it was smaller than I had hoped for. Some of my colleagues a year older than me, were claiming state pension and also still working.

Excuse me if I’ve got it wrong. Will pensioners whose only income is the old state pension not be entitled to pension credit to top it up to new state pension rate? So they will still be entitled to the winter fuel allowance.

I think it will mostly be females on the lower pension - because if they worked and paid the 'married woman's rate' of National Insurance this didn't count towards a pension (or to sickness benefit or unemployment benefit). Maybe these should still get the winter fuel allownce.

Those on the lower rate were able to retire 6years (!!)before the ones on the higher rate and are able to get pension credit if you don’t have an occupational/private pension as well.

We WASPIs had to work another SIX years for the same state pension and the higher amount reflects this. Imagine having to work for so much longer if you have ill health and struggling!!