Pension Credit - Would You Answer 243 Questions To Claim?
In the News
Is it any wonder that pensioners don't claim Pension credit when they would have to fill in a 243 question form.
I am sure that people who have worked all their lives and given their all to the country would find it daunting to complete such a form which by definition must be intrusive....
Paulyousef28 You may be able to pause forms if you complete them online as I have found this with other government forms alternatively get a paper copy then you can take as much time as you like.
Perhaps get a form now so that you are ready....
tumblespots would love to get a form now but the DWP won't send one to me just yet.
Well not until 2049.
Isn't it strange that the PM is getting involved with the inflated prices of Oasis concert tickets but doesn't give a damn about pensioners losing their heating allowance. The difference being Oasis fans choose whether to spend money on tickets to make rich people richer. Pensioners can't choose to go without heating!
Lynibis I am sure they would rather forget that they have taken away a valuable lifeline for many pensioners, let's face it, the state pension is very very low!
And with the intrusive forms that worry anyone who tries to complete it I can understand why many who could claim pension credit don't bother.
It is easier for them to think about Oasis tickets instead - it deflects the attention away from pensions as I doubt many pensioners are looking for Oasis tickets!
Lynibis they are caring about pensions staying warm in winter though they are working with the energy companies to see what else they can do, and I think they'll raise the rate as it's low now so that it will include those pensioners who just miss out by a few quid.
It's the very rich who are rightly going to lose out.
I hope they are going to do something for disabled people for winter, we always lose out and thousands have died over the last decade because the Tories changed the way you could apply to your energy company for the warm home scheme, you weren't guaranteed to get the £140.00 but at least you were in with a chance, but the Tories thought it would be better to let disabled people freeze to death.
To add insult to injury it's now being said that they may scrap the single resident council tax discount. This would affect most ages but for single pensioners, added to the loss of heating allowance, it could be a killer. Someone on tv said pension is over £800 but that is maximum, mine is almost £100 less.
Energy and council tax alone could then be almost £300 per month, then water, phone, tv licence. But never mind, let our pensioners sit in the dark, cold, hungry, no tv until they die and it will lessen the burden and release money for the growing population, and I don't mean just birth rate.
I can foresee a time when this mass manslaughter will be aired in court. Melodramatic? Maybe, but I believe many pensioners will die as a direct result of poverty this winter
Lynibis What I would like to see is that death certificates saying 'death caused by deliberate government cutbacks' rather than anything else!
tumblespots from past experience (of registering deaths) I know it couldn't be in the main no.1 cause but would love to see it under contributory causes
These things are set up so you don't bother, that's how they want it so some won't claim, over 200 questions, ridiculous
I was listening to LBC radio yesterday, and one of their callers said you can ring up the DWP and claim over the phone, so there is no need to write anything on a form.
They recommend having your NI & private pension details, property details, investments & savings etc handy when you call to save stress and time, though they didn't say how long it would take for the call, but I'd recommend saving an hour of your day to make the call and allow time for being stuck in a queue waiting to speak to someone, the number is 0800 99 1234.
There is also a pension credit calculator where you can check to see if you are eligible before you call or write forms out so it would be handy to know. The link is:
GrannySam I am just imagining an 80 year old hard of hearing person making that call!
Yeah - ive had to fill in longer forms to get PIP - previously DLA. They wanted me to go to a big public building for a face to face interview - obviously being on chemotherapy and having virtually no immune system it wasn’t something I could do. I explained this over the phone and the interviewer asked me. ‘What is chemotherapy?’
This was back in the day when a company called ATOS were doing the new claims - it was discovered a couple of years later that the staff received bonus related pay if they could refuse that benefit!
I still get reviewed regularly even though they know my cancer is incurable. And we sometimes wonder where this country’s money goes ?
suevernon1968 I am so sorry to hear that and am not surprised to hear that they were paid extra to refuse claims - so much for transparency! As ever, I imagine that it is those who make fraudulent claims that make it more difficult for those, like yourself, who have a genuine need.
The money is misspent on hundreds of thousands of paper-pushers who carry out the governments demands/wishes!
tumblespots it got so bad that they stopped using ATOS and something like 92% of appeals made by the claimants were upheld and the claimants got awarded PIP - back dated to the original claim date.
suevernon1968 92%!! Doesn't that tell them that the thing is broken, and, what a waste of money sending everyone through the appeals procedure, let alone the toll is takes on each person claiming ie. their general health and mental health! It's appalling to say the least.
tumblespots it cost the country a fortune but at least they no longer use ATOS anymore
That's the point, to put them off from filing it. They just need to take their time and not rush it.
People who voted for Starmer's Administration thought a leftist government would be more charitable to the elderly and needy, but as it turns out they're the Tories 2.0.
The Tories don't even hold conservative values, they're pretty much lefty, too.
PhilipMarc Isn't it time that a 21st century civilised society stopped penalising the elderly!
Not a chance, I m rubbish at form filling at the best of times so someone else would have to do it
janphoenix51 That's just it, you then have to tell someone else private information that you wouldn't usually want to share. They know that people are daunted by such a long form and probably won't claim once they see how much they have to fill in as it is worrying time anyway.
I think the whole thing is totally disgusting. The government finds millions a day to house illegal immigrants but won't look after our own elderly. It absolutely makes my blood boil, they shouldn't have to fill a form out in the first place , they should automatically get the support they need.
Listen to BBC Radio 2 now. This topic is being discussed highlighting how difficult it is to apply.
tumblespots it was quite shocking. One 80 year old man has never claimed anything in the whole of his life and has no private pension still hasn’t been awarded the pension credit yet!
Pjran That's disgusting, but what was he living on?
It's amazing how a civilised country can penalise it's pensioners when they have paid into the country through paying taxes all their lives.
It's an absolutely appalling way for a country to behave. But, just watch, the next thing will be to take away the single person allowance on council tax which, again, will affect millions of those same pensioners, as well as many others, then free medication and bus passes.
Many people don't worry too much about what happens to pensioners but they might regret that in time as we all get old!
tumblespots the man being interviewed said he relies on his pension and doesn’t own his home. He must really be struggling to pay his bills let alone food.
Pjran I can't understand how he manages either. Bills are so expensive these days and, as you say, that is before any food & clothes. I feel for the chap because there is no-one to help him.
The powers that be don't 'care' about anyone but themselves, and certainly don't care about pensioners. I understand that the government vote has just been announced that they are still not going to pay the WFA to any pensioner who doesn't get pension credit.
Why, oh why, don't they tax the 'extremely rich' to make up their deficits? Why pick on pensioners? It's criminal!
tumblespots the trouble was that all pensioners were paid the WFA regardless of their earnings. We know some pensioners on the higher tax rate.
Pjran But should the rest suffer because of them? There are plenty of pensioners who aren't on the higher tax rate! Perhaps it would be fairer to go by tax code, if you are on the high rate you don't get the WFA - all the other pensioners do...
tumblespots I don’t think the Government are willing to help except for those who are in desperate need. I see their point.
Pjran Who do you class as desperate? Those who get the PC benefit, yes, but what about those who miss out by having an income £5 above the cut off point? They are the ones who will be poorer than ever...
tumblespots there has to be a cut off somewhere but I suppose it’s tough if you’re near that figure.
And now they want to scrap winter fuel payments this government are awful gone against everything they said I'm so glad I didn't vote them
Leannexxx I didn't vote for them either. I am sure they will target pensioners again by taking away other benefits such as bus passes followed by free prescriptions.
Take away the free prescriptions and you are asking for trouble as it would create an enormous additional pressure on the NHS when they don't take the medication that they can't afford!
Don't those in government think ahead about the implications of these decisions?
Omg I think I'd of passed away with stress related problems to filling the questions before I finished it!
My memory is bad enough since I caught COVID a few months back & I'm only 40.
I will have no chance of being able to do that at retiring time, if I want to or not 
fifehoney Yes, as you get older filling out forms seems much more complicated and causes a great deal of worry.
1 thing I have learned when they load it with way to many questions for you to get something your entitled to then also if your unlucky enough to be not eligible then it will mean your entitled to something else and that should never happen as the amount of unclaimed benefits which people are entitled to is disgusting .I would actually encourage people to review there entitlement each month incase your income changes on a regular basis .
Will probably have to. I have had years out of work due to mental health. Only have part time job and don’t earn enough for contributions. I have about 17 years only and can’t afford to plug the gaps unfortunately.
Interesting that Octopus Energy is going to give £50, £100 and £200 payments for those who need it this winter and make a claim for it but in the news it stated Labour is withdrawing support to 10 million people of which 11 million had it previously so only 1 in 11 now get it although a further 1 million are eligible but don't claim or something like that. 10 million people, such a huge figure.
I think means testing is going to be the order of the day with this Labour government but means testing is bureaucratic and has some expense in itself and many such departments are losing staff with cutbacks. It feels like long delays on processing claims are incoming. If they try to speed up the process that is when many fraudulent claims get processed successfully.
It just annoys me that MPs don't means test their huge number of benefits and claims processes. Why Rachel Reeves can enjoy her £4400 energy bill paid for by the state where as poor people get nothing seems a tad unfair. I really find the type of people that become politicians disgusting, they are vile people left or right. Huge egos, but little actual intelligence. They cause more problems than they solve. There is no honesty either. There are so many lies and misinformation that the truth struggle to get out because its not politically correct so people end up with a warped sense of political reality.
BonzoBanana I am totally with you on this. My opinion on RR can't be published otherwise I would probably be incarcerated, it feels like 1984!
Before long I think they are going to bring in means testing for the state pension itself too....
tumblespots Well the state pension is one of the benefits not mean's tested;
Attendance Allowance
Bereavement Support Payment
Carer's Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
New style Employment and Support Allowance
Personal Independence Payment
State Pension
So perhaps it will be considered for those with very high savings or private pensions. Labour and Conservative governments are just micro-managing failure and a poorer economy. None of them are actually actively looking to sort out the economy and return us to a wealth creating economy. It annoys me that the private sector had to have private pensions but the public sector just gives themselves much better pensions that are payed by the tax payer at the time. No money is actually put back for their pensions and that makes up part of the huge £180k burden of debt for every single person in this country. Where as a private pension may underperform and they get less, not so for public sector pensions.
BonzoBanana No-one ever said the system was fair, which is just as well as it isn't and I have never been on the plus side of anything!
But I do believe that the state pension will become means tested in the very near future.
There is no denying that the country has been extremely badly run by successive governments and I don't think that that is going to change any time soon.
tumblespots It's funny after the second world war there was both Labour and Conservative governments that were both very good in restoring industry and wealth creation. I wonder what such politicians would think of the garbage politicians we have today, utterly clueless without direction, confused and completely incompetent. The whole point of leaving the EU was to start making our own good choices for the long term benefit of our people. I've yet to see any sensible decisions made about restoring industry, reducing imports and preventing the bad spending habits of our population.
BonzoBanana Yes, we are sadly lacking in capable politicians these days who can't see the wood for the trees!
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter
