Benefits you're entitled to: the over 60s
Feature
by Sarah Coles
There's one thing we all know about benefits: they're about to be cut to the bone. In future, only the most needy will be entitled to government assistance, and even they may well receive less support than before.
These changes are on the near horizon - but at the moment, many generous benefits still remain in place. Yet a huge chunk of this cash goes unclaimed: the most recent estimates at the beginning of this year put the amount at £16.8 million.
So it's worth getting to grips with what's available now and what will be around in the future - and what you may be entitled to.
OLDER PEOPLE
State Pension
The amount of pension you receive and the age at which you'll get it will depend on your circumstances.
How it works...
Men can receive a state pension at 65, but between 2018 and 2020 this will gradually rise to 66, with further rises due later. The women's pension age has already started to rise from 60, and will reach 65 in 2016. It will then rise in line with men's pensions.
To qualify for the basic state pension you'll need to have built up 30 'qualifying years' of national insurance contributions. If you retired after April 2010, you may get credit for those years you didn't work due to caring responsibilities or if you were claiming certain benefits.
The basic state pension for 2012/13 is £107.45. If you've built up some years of NI contributions but not enough to qualify for the full state pension, the amount you receive will be calculated by the number of qualifying years.
Additional State Pension
You may also be entitled to the additional state pension if you've been working, or caring for a child under 12 or other dependants, or claiming particular benefits.
You'll not be entitled to the additional pension if you've 'contracted out'. The amount you receive will depend on qualifying years and when they were.
Pension Credit
There are two kinds of credit: the guarantee credit, which could top up your income to £137.35 (£209.70 if you have a partner), and the savings credit, which rewards those with modest private pensions savings. This can be up to £20.52 a week (£27.09 a week if you have a partner).
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You may be entitled to either type, or both.
The amount will depend on your weekly income and how much you've saved. It will take into account earnings, pension income and some benefits, and will reduce by £1 a week for every £500 (or part of £500) of savings or investments you have over £10,000, excluding the value of your home.
Additional benefits
These benefits include concessionary coach travel for over-60s; a winter fuel allowance of between £100 and £300 this year; and attendance allowance for the disabled.
Not all people over 60 get free bus passes, many councils have put it back a year in line with womens pension rise, This is unfair
If you stop working at aged 60, you can apply for Pension Credit on the rates noted above, as far as I know savings credit is not applicable until you are 65.
Also it seems that savings credit applies to pension income and not the savings you have, as it appears that they "tax" you at £1 per week for every £500 you have saved!
Peter.
Another "con" of the thrifty who responded to the governmet call to "save for your old age".........this means you get "Fanny Adam", so the wise got themselves a council house, went on "soosh" and all the benefits associated with this: there are loads of perkies for these people. Unless you are on one or more of the multiple benefits you have to pay £40 for a digi box......wsell, suppose the layabouts on "soosh" won't be affected\ as they already have their widescreen 42" teles.
The government preach about making these people work and cutting their benefits, which means they increase their 'moonlighting' jobs unless the government make then work for their benefits at an hourly rate based on their total take (including housing benefit) grossed up for the untaxed/untaxable now items.
I remember at work when my assistant asked to be sacked although he had a good quite well paid job. He poroduced calculations showing he would be better off staying at home: nothing was included for tax free potential moonlight earnings. Enough said?
How is it that anyone on guaranteed pension credit due to low income can inherit in excess of £200,000 and STILL be entitled to have their rent paid and council tax paid - apparently they can have any amount behind them once they are on guaranteed pension credit - extremely unfair (they also get help with glasses and teeth) This is an anomoly that urgentlyneeds to be sorted!
I live in Scotland with my husband who is 58 has worked since he left school 40 odd yrs ago until we went in to business together a few yrs ago which lasted 3yrs until we lost it. We both went back to college and retrained as we both want to work. We both got jobs, I'm still employed, his lasted 18 mnths and was closed down he went to sign on and was told he won't receive any benefits as he had not worked 2 full tax yrs and I was working to support the both of us. He then found another job which again lasted roughly 18 mnths and again he could not claim benefits in fact he was told to sign off as did many of his friends who went to sign on as well, as there was no point signing on. He does not get free dental treatment or glasses like some and all because I am working and because I earn just over the amount for working tax credit I can't even claim that. We get no help from anyone. We would be better of if I was paid off from my job. I know we are not alone there are probably thousands of people in the same position as us. This country does not encourage workers just scroungers which is bringing this country to its knees.
I am over 65 and would like to know how to claim free bus and concessionary coach travel for over-60s;
If Your a single woman aged 60 you cannot claim pension credit untill you receive a state pension at 62yrs old
This government is to busy paying out to all the imigrants who come to the UK, free housing, free dental treatment, more benefits are paid to them than they are to UK people who have worked all their lives and contributed to this country and yet if you go to any other country they will NOT give you sweet F all. It is no wonder that all these immigrants want to come to UK.
UK is needing to look after its own people as charity begins at home!!!