Pension credit

[transam]

And no I do not have a link

on the radio about pensioner poverty

2 billion a year is not claimed by
Pensioners who are entitled to it


They don’t know they are entitled to it

if the 2 billion was actually paid to them it has been cakculated that it would save social services etc 4 billion a year

 

[The Samaritan]

Pension credit is a means-tested benefit and one that does not often apply to those that have worked hard, saved a bit have their own property along with a private pension. You get fulck all other than tax on tax if you have worked and saved and prepared for retirement.

 

[transam]

They were on about those pensioners that are renting and only have a state pension to live on

2 billion is a large sum IMO going unclaimed
If they are entitled to it they should get it

could be worth up to 7 grand a year as it opens up entitlement to other benefits

 

[conny]

By all accounts it is an onerous task to try and claim benefits you may think you are entitled to. My wife used to be a 'complex debt investigator' for the DWP and she says the paperwork that claimants have to fill in and submit is horrendous and many claimants would give up. She's not sure about these days but, if you submitted a claim and they had to return it to you for completion, you only got one more chance to get it correct. If you failed to give them the correct information your claim was struck off.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

She's not sure about these days but, if you submitted a claim and they had to return it to you for completion, you only got one more chance to get it correct. If you failed to give them the correct information your claim was struck off.

I find that part hard to believe - If you entitled to claim you have an entitlement, it's not something they can penalise you to not have because of inability to fill in forms. Most likely they will refer you to source of help to complete the forms correctly.

 

[big-all]

often the amount will be quite small but the fact its a means tested benefit[often called "gateway"or"trigger points"]to opens doors for all sorts off other help like council tax help housing cost help grants for upgrading insulation and heating' costs towards heating cost other than the standard £2-300 given to every pensioner
even other help like food banks or other help services only available to people on means tested benefits

 

[big-all]

I find that part hard to believe - If you entitled to claim you have an entitlement, it's not something they can penalise you to not have because of inability to fill in forms. Most likely they will refer you to source of help to complete the forms correctly.

i am afraid if thats what you think you will be very disappointed as the obstacles are many and sorting it is often the claimants' problem finding help where they can

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

i am afraid if thats what you think you will be very disappointed as the obstacles are many and sorting it is often the claimants' problem finding help where they can

I have helped a few people, the CAB, Help the Aged also offer help I think and there are always helpful people around.

 

[big-all]

I have helped a few people, the CAB, Help the Aged also offer help I think and there are always helpful people around.

yes indeed but unfortunately some dont have the wherewith all to seek help indeed some just give up with many a death where benefits claims problems have been a contributing factor from a small amount off the problem up to the main cause off death

 

[conny]

Correct big-all. Most of the amounts may only be small to most people but to someone needing an extra fiver a week it can mean a lot.
Harry, they were often told that they had been denied the benefit because their answers 'indicated' they were not eligible, (without being told why they were not eligible). Some would appeal and, if you got a 'considerate' assessor they would sometimes explain why they had been rejected the first time but they were always under so much pressure to process claims quickly. It didn't matter if they were ultimately wrong so long as they 'processed' their quota. Once my wife became a 'Lean Practitioner' she was able to look at the way claims were being processed and one of the biggest pitfalls was the way they were 'date stamped'. Instead of being date stamped on the date they arrived they were being stamped when someone had it land on their desk. This may have been outside the time line from their first submission. She drew up a plan to change the system by having them date stamped in the post room on the day of arrival and distributed to a processor within 2 days. The processor then had to complete it within something like 3 days or else mark the file up and pass it to the supervisor. The supervisor would then mark it up for a senior processor to deal with within 24 hours. She fought to get this implemented, and eventually did, and claims were then processed much quicker. Because processors were hitting targets more quickly more people did get what they were entitled to but the process was still cumbersome for claimants and I believe it is not much better these days.