Pension Credit

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howarth7
Mon, 12/01/2009 - 06:10

Hi all,

Since March 2004 I have lived abroad in The Gambia and now Thailand. However,I am now considering returning to England because my savings are running out and I am not allowed to work in Thailand. A "Retirement" visa is only issued if you have the equivalent of approx 16,000 GBP in a Thai bank, or an income of 16,000 GBP, or a combination of both totalling that amount. I believe that I would be eligible for Pension Credit as I am a single male aged 61and have the necessary qualifying years (NI stamps). I have a friend who will allow me to stay rent free in one of the houses he rents in UK. My decision to return to England or return to The Gambia, would depend on the answers to some queries which some kind person may be able to help me with here.

1) Can I apply for Pension Credit immediately I return or do I have to sign on the Unemployment Register first, and if that is the case, how long before I can apply? (I'm actually assuming that I can apply immediately, but you never know).

2)I need to know how long the application process takes from the relevant office receiving my application to actually receiving the first payment in my bank.

3)If granted, would benefit be back dated to application date? Important as i will have limited funds.

4)Would they need to do a "home visit" before granting benefit?

5) Any other relevant info/advice welcomed.

Thanks in advance. 

 

Additional State Pension SERPS 2012 2015 changes ›
Guest (not verified):

Does anyone know if there is an upper limit on pensioners savings which would stop pension savings credit being paid to my Dad?
He s 74,has modest savings,lives alone and is unable to find this information anywhere.
Thanks

Sun, 01/11/2009 - 14:21
Guest (not verified):

My freelance work slowed to a standstill during the bankers induced recession and I had to throw in the towel in June 2009. My wife was then made redundant in November 2009. I applied for JSA allowance mid December 2009. I was told that as I am 63 I should start all over again and apply for Pension Credit. I have no capital and no income. After sending proof of my situation, by request, in dribs and drabs. I am now receiving a home visit.

I was encouraged to back date the application by the Pensions Service. It is now February and am still waiting for any meaningful sign that my broke status qualifies for pension credit.

You would not be blamed for thinking that the slow progress and lack of communication is a means of starving a 63 year old into finding work which isn't there. Both my wife and I are looking everyday for work and not finding it.

The local council have said Housing benefit is subject to being given Pension Credit. I cannot pay my rent and have no money for food or heating. In fact the council have sent the bailiffs around to collect unpaid council tax.

Is this a way of keeping down claimant figures by stealth?

I already suffer heart related illness, thank you Labour controlled Social Services, you are making my days cold, hungry, strenuous and stressful.

THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG HERE!

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 17:06
buygold3333 (not verified):

Due to arthritus I had to stop work, having not claimed, at 61 was sent to council benifit advisor,2005 not cab. tThis department has now three staff not 8, the man who interviewed us was working for the claiments, he was fully knowledgeable,and knew more than the pension credit office,and disability department,having given him all our details, he produced the goods The council in all areas of the uk, have this department,they fill in all your forms, and advise on what you need..basic £858 p c £300 rent £385 invalidity plus new car+£72.for wife.Also council tax paid.There are further benifits ,but were happy with what we get. Paid lots of tax and n.i.when working so go get it £19k plus.Think it goes under advice center? FOR BENEFITS.since 20005 the council moved this depertment three times ,so be persistent there trying to hide it,dont know why..our first cheque was for £3000 backdated payment,but we had low funds to get us through.

Sat, 06/02/2010 - 11:47
Guest (not verified):

Tell your Council that housing benefit is NOT dependent upon an award of pension credit. It IS the case that "guarantee pension credit" (which you appear to be entitled to) is an automatic "passport" to housing benefit, but you are nevertheless entitled to housing benefit if you have no income and capital of less than £16,000.00.

I had the same problem and immediately appealed the Council's decision, which was quickly reversed.

Sat, 13/02/2010 - 10:50
Julie Sw (not verified):

The Depatrment have lost my form, although I know they received it because they returned all the documents that I had had to send in.

Use the Freedom Of Information Act to find out why your applications have been lost or delayed, and how many complaints they have received and so on. Write to your MP and the local Press. Email them if you can't afford stamps! Don't get angry, get even! Don't let them get away it!

Tue, 02/03/2010 - 07:27
Guest (not verified):

I'm 62 & was made redundant in december 2009 . when I rang to apply for jobseekers I was told pension credit would be better as i wouldn't have to sign on .As we have no jobcentre in our town I took the advice to find 2 months down the line that I cannot claim it because of savings ! only today I find online ,via google,that I CAN get contribution based jobseekers for 6 months while I continue to look for work !
nice try to fiddle me out of a small amount of benefit after working all my life and paying in !!!!

Tue, 30/03/2010 - 16:50
Guest (not verified):

im 61 yr old female ...i was self employed up till dec 2009..made a claim for the pension credit too top up....my basic state pension..off 100.17..i receive a week ...they have said i am not elligble ..to receive it ...has what i had earnt frrom april to december when i was working they worked it out for the yr from april 09 till ...april2010..is it goverment rules that money i earned while working ..was supposed to last me a full yr ...because i am now living below the govement poverty line ...i have also being turned down for help with my council tax ..so for the the last 4 months i have being living in poverty ...and im expected to pay full council tax ..and my bills ..etc ...i am curerently ..living on ..29.83 .less per week ...that the goverment says a pensioner should be living on ...this has caused stress and health problems ...i have appealed..against it ...they have made mistakes in my claim ...which i am sure are dilibrate ..

Wed, 31/03/2010 - 15:40
Guest (not verified):

My partner and i applied for pension credit on 21st Dec 2009 and 21 weeks later we have still not had a decision from them, we had a home visit 3 weeks ago we were told we would get pension credit but he couldnt tell us how much. I phone them at least 3 times a week and every time i get told different information. I am sick to death of being fobbed off. But what do you do. Please help

Sat, 15/05/2010 - 21:02
Guest (not verified):

Contact your MP with all the details and he will follow up.

Thu, 27/05/2010 - 09:51
Guest (not verified):

Hi sorry to hear your problems, but there is an easy solution. Forget CAB, they try but are ineffctive the people you need to contact are Age Concern. They are brilliant and will sort everything out for you VERY QUICKLY.
Best of luck

Sun, 27/06/2010 - 22:57
Guest (not verified):

This is scary. The government wants to make savings in this economic climate. My suggestion.......... fire everyone in pension credit offices and employ those of us over 60 who actually want to work. we will at least give a good service

Wed, 21/07/2010 - 19:45
pat newman (not verified):

my husband is 61 and been claiming jsa for nearly a year jointly with me, although i
do work 10 and a half hours per week. we have just put in an application to go for pension
credit instead of the jsa. It takes 6-8weeks to process, does my husband still receive the
jsa,and sign-on at the job centre while we are waiting for the pension credit, have sent the
relevant info to the pension creit dept. and they acknowledged thisby letter.

Thu, 22/07/2010 - 10:54
Guest (not verified):

I LOVE all the different information that you get each time you phone these people.

I am over 60 and was told that I was not obliged to actively seek work and I did not need to got to the office to sign every 2 weeks but could do it by post.

Now they tell me that I have to go on a work training course because I have been registered for 12 months, I quoted the not obliged to look for work bit at the person and got a blank stare in return, he then said "but of course you have to look for work" so I asked him why I didnt have to come in and sign every 2 weeks and show them what I had done to find work. He didnt know..... He said I could "sign of " if I wanted but I would loose my housing benefit etc., which is all I get because I was self employed. Suppose I could sign off and then sign on agian 2 weeks later.... Next option is Pension Credit... and I dont have to look for work....

Mon, 26/07/2010 - 12:47
maggie (not verified):

My husband is 64 on pension credit( as advised by the the job centre )I am 55 I am told by the same job centre that I should seek work surely if my husbands claim is for both of us I should not be working if he was getting JSA it would be Illegal for me to work can anyone help me .

Tue, 18/01/2011 - 23:43
Guest (not verified):

we lost our father 2 years back and mum was devistated but has managed to get her life back on track and might even start dating again she is only 68 years young and we are encouraging her to enjoy her life once again

my question to u is mum has 3 penisions left over from dad, widow/state, sevial service and army pension
if my mum where to meet some one again and he also is a pensioner how does this effect her own pensions, and his, especially if he moved in with her, or vis versa
ofcourse this is all pie in the sky at the moment but as we keep telling her u never know whats around the corner.

please could u advise us thanku for all yr help it is very much appriciated

Fri, 21/01/2011 - 12:15
Dead on arrival (not verified):

Hi: For the guy in Thailand, move to Laos.
I returned to uk from Thailand, after 3 yrs. 21 december 2010 went to jobcentre told, too old to work .im 63 have to claim Pension Credit, Phoned them.spent half an hour on the phone only to be told I hadnt answered the security questions correctly and would be sent a Form 30 dec.form arrived same questions as per phone call returned letter with documents, 31 dec. it is now , 21 jan.have called them repeatedly,they all give differing excuses and say they will put my information on the system.up till now no joy .
When I tell them I have no money at all I now owe 4
wks rent and have a wife and 15 yr old to support they tell me to claim a crisis loan which I have, but this is only for food.no help towards anything else.and they make you feel as if its not your money I already Know I have paid in more than I need to get pension credit.I checked before leaving the uk.I and my familly will be on the street soon but no one is interested.they forget who pays their wages I have already registered a complaint but can tell by the call I got today that it fell on deaf ears.

this departement needs closing down and something else put in its place

Fri, 21/01/2011 - 18:16
Guest (not verified):

Yes you can work, but all the money you earn will be taken off the pension credit apart from £10.00 I think.

Sat, 29/01/2011 - 00:59
g (not verified):

My father had a home visit in mid-January and we have heard nothing. Telephone calls get nowhere - they say the office only received his form on 15th March, and we cannot expect to hear anything before mid-April. My MP has written to the DWP's Acting Chief Executive but we have still heard nothing. My father will be 100 in June, so I suspect they are waiting for him to die so they won't have to pay out.

Sun, 10/04/2011 - 08:42
Guest (not verified):

My Husbandis 64. He is putting in a claim for pension credit,can he be forced to withdraw early on his small private pension.He would lose quite a lot of money if he is made to do so.

Sat, 28/05/2011 - 13:23
Guest (not verified):

i am 62yrs old and get pc, ihave been receiving this for 2yrs, on my motor car insurance form should i say iam unemployed or retired?

Sun, 24/07/2011 - 14:41