Time Is Running Out For This Pension Boost

OK - So how does "Savings Credit" work?

There would have been 'enough space' to write - 'more about that in Part 2'.

Doubtless the Government will require all sorts of information about you. Such vital information such as
Height, weight, whether bald or not, frequency of marital relations, inside leg measurement, DNA sample (that's a must for the criminal database), have you own teeth, where you last went on holiday, do you pick you nose, do you cut your nails in the bath and a good few other essential and intrusive details.
Why do they demand all this stuff? Because they can and it demonstrates that they are in charge and we are just so much "fodder" for their whims.
You'll gather generally I don't have a high opinion of Governments or their employees.

Reached 80years 24 Aug & now have an increase
of .80p a week pension to go wild with,big deal!!!. I object to paying my council tax
at the full rate & part of it being past to
the future Olympics Fund. Pensioners should not have to subiside such a fund,many of us will probably not be around 2012. I also agree with a previous subscriber that to
much personal info is required by the Gov.
Why on earth do'nt we get a livable pension
in the first place, I wish I could claim
expenses like our leach like MP's. The one
in my area Feltham is the biggest one of
the lot also his wife.

Given that I will reach 60 later this month, and taking advantage of my entitlement to retire at that age, I used the web-site to determine in advance my pension expectations, and assumed that Pension Credit would follow automatically. Luckily, someone informed me of the truth, and I used the free-phone number given above. Spoke with a very nice young man who asked the required questions (none too intrusive) and organized that my Pension Credit will be paid into my bank from the Monday after my 60th birthday. This was much easier than applying for Housing Benefit (a 28 page form) or Income Support (which is at the whim of the officer handling your case). Can only advise others to go onto that phone and get in your application. As to it not being a fortune - well, having done the last two years at minimum wage, and since July on JobSeekers Allowance, my income will double - yes DOUBLE - from £60.+ to £124.05 and Housing Benefit and CT Benefit comes along with it by right. I missed this years Heating Allowance by one or two days, but will get it next year. Roll On.

My mum is on her own and gets a state pension, plus a small (very small) pension from my deceased father's employers. She also receives housing benefit. A few years ago she applied for Pension Credit. She was a few pence over the limit was not entitled to it. We thought nothing more of it, until the Housing Benefit said she had been overpaid as she was receiving Pension Credit! They asked her to repay approx £480. My mum had months of sleepless nights as she has never owed anyone anything in her life (she doesn't have any savings either). My brother and I appealed against the decision to repay the money on behalf of my mum, who was 80 at the time (83 now). We had to attend a hearing with her and the local Council said she should have KNOWN she was being overpaid housing benefit and should have questioned it. Thing is, she did question whether she was entitled to the amount of housing benefit and was told to "Go away and enjoy it". My mum has never had anything in her life, or owned anything in her life. The stress the local council caused all because of her application for Pension Credit was unbelievable. I think my mum is entitled to Pension Credit now and several people have told her she is, but she is too frightened to apply for it in case the same thing happens again. We won the appeal by the way and she didn't have to repay the money.

paying a greater basic pention might be the logical thing to do the goverment will not do it. the reason is that many senior citizens look at this pention credit as charity and will not accept it while others dont no and will not claim, this will leave billions in goverment coffers money they can save for the next finacial diasaster that will require the tax payer to bail out some other mis-managed fincial organisation

I have been on benefits for years because I have a serverly disabled wife whom I look after 24/7 with help from various services.
Over the years I have fought the system for help and benefits.
Some I won some I lost.
I had the usual SATURDAY letter in Brown stating that as Im getting near 60 My benefits would change at 60 .
Panic, this usualy means that they are going to reduce our money (last time a lady came after 10 years to make sure we were getting enough money and had a laptop with all the info on it -£50 per week was stopped and nothing had really changed).
So I contacted the number given and I was pleased to hear a friendly voice who stated that I would have to contact them nearer the date and in so doing I had a shock-my money was doubled with out any fuss.
Norman-Gill