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Original poster

Pension credit only £3 less than State Pension

604 replies

SpanishBaguette · 16/09/2025 13:16

Maybe it's been obvious to others but I've only just found out that Pension Credit will top you up to no less than £227 per week which is only £3 less than the state pension.

AIBU to be hacked off that I need to pay 35 years of contributions to end up with a near identical pension to someone who gets it for free. WTF?

OP posts:
thepariscrimefiles · 17/09/2025 08:01

jan2310 · 16/09/2025 14:32

My friend cashed in her private pension as soon as she could. She spent it all. Every penny. On luxury 5 star holidays to Dubai, the Maldives and Australia. Bought designer handbags and lots of new stuff for her home. She didn’t save a penny for retirement as she knew she would get pension credit and would be better off than if she had a small private pension. She now gets pension credit, her rent paid and other benefits.

It’s not something I would do but I can see why those struggling on a state pension with a small private pension feel cheated.

Surely if she had enough money in her private pension to fund all these luxury holidays, that would mean that she'd been in employment for a long time so will probably have made enough NI contributions to qualify for the State Pension that isn't a gateway to other benefits.

If you have paid enough NI to qualify for the State Pension, I don't think you are allowed to choose to have Pension Credits instead. Otherwise, all the pensioners who are struggling on just the full State Pension would have done that too.

Allthings · 17/09/2025 07:34

Biskieboo · 16/09/2025 16:26

Agree re part-timers (not that I said anything to the contrary), mostly disagree with the big companies bit, totally disagree with the management perk bit. This very day I have been working on a scheme with over 5,000 members and which had sections for, inter alia, machinists and clerical workers. Average pension p.a. of about seven grand. They're not all rich managers are they? Still, this is just what I do for a job so what do I know.

I also agree that mandating access to workplace pension schemes for all employees is a relatively recent thing - though auto enrolment has been about for over a decade and stakeholder pensions (which were not needed for the smallest employers) came in in 2001. Again I didn't say different.

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5000 members is a relatively small number. Lots of lower paid workers were excluded from pension schemes and women in particular were affected due to being in lower paid jobs and being part time. Pensions often were a management perk and blue collar workers often did not have access to the same benefits as white collar workers. There were of course some enlightened companies, but they were not the norm.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 16/09/2025 23:08

TheFairyCaravan · 16/09/2025 13:41

My sister will more than likely get pension credit when the time comes. She’s always worked in minimum wage caring jobs. She never earned enough so there was money left over to pay into a pension before it was mandatory.

Her DH unfortunately got early onset dementia when he was in his forties and he, sadly, died when he was 57. She had to take time out of the workforce to care for him.

She’s back working now, in a caring role.with pennies going into a pension but it’s not going to be enough to stop her needing a top up. I don’t think she should be begrudged.

Not everybody who needs help has never worked. My nan was widowed at 47, she worked all her life but she still needed help when she was old.

Don't think anybody would begrudge your sister per pension/credits

TheSpiritofDarkandLonelyWater · 16/09/2025 22:56

NuovaPilbeam · 16/09/2025 22:47

Unless you earn over approx £41k per year, you are a ‘taker’. Anyone earning less than that takes out more than they put in.

There's a big difference between between people who give value to the economy by labouring productively for as many hours as a lawyer or accountant, but simply aren't financially rewarded by capitalism, vs people who opt not work at all. The latter are "takers".

There are people in between. Not everyone on less than £41k has chosen to do so and not every who is not working at all has chosen to do so.

NuovaPilbeam · 16/09/2025 22:47

Unless you earn over approx £41k per year, you are a ‘taker’. Anyone earning less than that takes out more than they put in.

There's a big difference between between people who give value to the economy by labouring productively for as many hours as a lawyer or accountant, but simply aren't financially rewarded by capitalism, vs people who opt not work at all. The latter are "takers".

Enigma54 · 16/09/2025 21:40

Hubblebubble · 16/09/2025 19:11

@MyElatedUmberFinch it's full of excellent advice. What has anyone with depression got to lose by getting into a sleep routine, taking their medication, attending therapy, eating well and moving their body? It's not going to make anyone feel worse is it? Whereas staying the same or actively engaging in harmful behaviours will.

Bloody hell.

Enigma54 · 16/09/2025 21:36

montessorinanny · 16/09/2025 21:22

Yes it is. It was also made worse by someone in the pension office who did not know what they were talking about who told her that she was not entitled to anything else and had to live on what she had. There was no mention of pension credit at all. She thought she would have to keep working in order to survive. Not that we would have let that happen. My brothers and I have supported her if needed but she didn't want that.

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Well that’s terrible of the pension office. I’m so glad your mum was awarded her PC.

Justchilling07 · 16/09/2025 21:35

Coffeeishot · 16/09/2025 14:21

You are in such a privileged position with your view point do you think all poorer people are lazy and feckless ?

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Oh my goodness, agree, many of these comments, are horrible, the resentment, towards poorer people
I mean really, if it’s such a good life on benefits, apparently, it’s an easy way to live! Then the people getting so angry claim benefits then… no because it means you can’t have any assets, property etc and the person has to prove why they’re unable to work.
Personally, l own my own home and l’m paying into a private pension, l just don’t get why there’s so much bitterness, one poster saying, basically if you’re not bitter, then it means you haven’t got any fire in your belly!!
The sad thing is these posters are tarring everyone with the same brush, classing, disabled people as “lazy and feckless”!! Disgusting attitude.

Enigma54 · 16/09/2025 21:26

hagchic · 16/09/2025 18:34

@Nowherefast4

Well as the fastest growing group is those with mental health disorders - top of the list anxiety/depression there is quite a lot they can do to help them get better and back into work.

  1. Exercise - every day
  2. Eat well
  3. Manage their sleep
  4. Attend their appointments - always
  5. Take their medication as suggested
  6. Attend their therapy
  7. Attend their work placements suggested and engage as much as possible with the tasks given

Things that do not help

  1. Refusing to attend appointments
  2. Not forcing themselves out of bed and into a sleep routine
  3. Not exercising or doing physio exercises
  4. Utilising alcohol or illegal drugs that they know make them worse
  5. Not taking their medication
  6. Not working when working actually helps

Does all this include cancer induced depression? Because I can tell you, being diagnosed with 2 incurable cancers, is an absolute depressing headfuck!

montessorinanny · 16/09/2025 21:22

Enigma54 · 16/09/2025 21:14

Gosh that’s quite sad. All those years worked and for very little actual
state UK pension.

Show quote history

Yes it is. It was also made worse by someone in the pension office who did not know what they were talking about who told her that she was not entitled to anything else and had to live on what she had. There was no mention of pension credit at all. She thought she would have to keep working in order to survive. Not that we would have let that happen. My brothers and I have supported her if needed but she didn't want that.

NoisyLittleOtter · 16/09/2025 21:22

KhakiTiger · 16/09/2025 20:19

This is why all welfare is losing support among those who pay into the system.

It’s far too easy to never contribute an anything and get in return everything those who have contributed get. The ever dwindling number of contributors are sick and tired and the system will collapse eventually. Then let’s see how the takers will live for free.

Unless you earn over approx £41k per year, you are a ‘taker’. Anyone earning less than that takes out more than they put in.

Enigma54 · 16/09/2025 21:19

KhakiTiger · 16/09/2025 20:19

This is why all welfare is losing support among those who pay into the system.

It’s far too easy to never contribute an anything and get in return everything those who have contributed get. The ever dwindling number of contributors are sick and tired and the system will collapse eventually. Then let’s see how the takers will live for free.

The “ takers” ?

Enigma54 · 16/09/2025 21:14

montessorinanny · 16/09/2025 20:23

For some people pension credit is a lifeline. My mother is one of those. She has worked from age 15, only retiring at 78 when her body said no more. She worked full time both here in the UK and in Australia. Her basic state pension was £10 per week due to not paying while living in Australia. There is no reciprocal agreement with Australia any more so she cannot claim a part pension with them for all the time she worked there. Without pension credit she would not be able to live at all.

Gosh that’s quite sad. All those years worked and for very little actual
state UK pension.

TheSpiritofDarkandLonelyWater · 16/09/2025 21:02

FixedOnTheFuture · 16/09/2025 20:58

The depression stops them from even being able to start any of those things, is that hard for you to understand.
Also it can be secondary to other illnesses, but still listed as one of their conditions, so it comes up a lot in lists of reasons why people get benefits. It's not often the only thing they are claiming for.

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Yes I am on PIP and depression is one of my conditions but it is not what I actually claim for.

FixedOnTheFuture · 16/09/2025 20:58

Hubblebubble · 16/09/2025 19:11

@MyElatedUmberFinch it's full of excellent advice. What has anyone with depression got to lose by getting into a sleep routine, taking their medication, attending therapy, eating well and moving their body? It's not going to make anyone feel worse is it? Whereas staying the same or actively engaging in harmful behaviours will.

The depression stops them from even being able to start any of those things, is that hard for you to understand.
Also it can be secondary to other illnesses, but still listed as one of their conditions, so it comes up a lot in lists of reasons why people get benefits. It's not often the only thing they are claiming for.

montessorinanny · 16/09/2025 20:23

For some people pension credit is a lifeline. My mother is one of those. She has worked from age 15, only retiring at 78 when her body said no more. She worked full time both here in the UK and in Australia. Her basic state pension was £10 per week due to not paying while living in Australia. There is no reciprocal agreement with Australia any more so she cannot claim a part pension with them for all the time she worked there. Without pension credit she would not be able to live at all.

TheSpiritofDarkandLonelyWater · 16/09/2025 20:23

KhakiTiger · 16/09/2025 20:19

This is why all welfare is losing support among those who pay into the system.

It’s far too easy to never contribute an anything and get in return everything those who have contributed get. The ever dwindling number of contributors are sick and tired and the system will collapse eventually. Then let’s see how the takers will live for free.

Contributors are people earning over £40k . Are you one?

KhakiTiger · 16/09/2025 20:19

This is why all welfare is losing support among those who pay into the system.

It’s far too easy to never contribute an anything and get in return everything those who have contributed get. The ever dwindling number of contributors are sick and tired and the system will collapse eventually. Then let’s see how the takers will live for free.

JenniferBooth · 16/09/2025 20:18

Hubblebubble · 16/09/2025 19:11

@MyElatedUmberFinch it's full of excellent advice. What has anyone with depression got to lose by getting into a sleep routine, taking their medication, attending therapy, eating well and moving their body? It's not going to make anyone feel worse is it? Whereas staying the same or actively engaging in harmful behaviours will.

The State.......................work full time, keep your weight down, have kids cos the birth rate is dropping dont overeat keep yourself available during non contracted hours but make sure you get plenty of excersise oh but remember to take your phone with you in case you get called into your zero hours job

Also The State....................run yourselves ragged while doing all this and making sure you care for your elderly relatives.

Livingincanadaafter19yearsinlondon · 16/09/2025 20:10

NuovaPilbeam · 16/09/2025 18:42

No one is saying poorer pensioners should get nothing. But for lower earners, often the private pension is minimal, auto enrolment is a very recent thing - a few percent of minimum wage does not accumulate into much - it might only be worth a few pounds a week.

The issue is there's no incremental benefit to having worked and paid your NICs, when the state pension you get for that is just £3 more than the pension credit deemed to be the minimum needed to live on.

It should be that state pension from a full NIC contribution record gives you a materially better pension than pension credit.

By this logic, would you support high earners getting a significantly higher pension than low earners. You can make voluntary contribution for NI gaps (out of work, etc). The amount required is £923 a year. So £923 is all you need to contribute for a full years NI! I suspect if many of the people moaning on this thread actually looked at their own personal NI contributions and compared that number to the annual, triple locked, guaranteed pension they're getting they would realise they are also being subsidised by another tax payers contributions.

It's the whole point of wealth redistribution! You can't have it both ways - expect a top up yourself while moaning about others getting the same thing.

Plenty of countries where your pension is tied to your work and the poverty among the elderly is heartbreaking.

AnneElliott · 16/09/2025 19:37

AirborneElephant · 16/09/2025 14:13

That doesn’t make any sense. You’ve always been able to get credit as a SAHM for any children. So if she was a SAHM and then worked she should have a full state pension.

That only came in from 1978 I believe. Before that there wasn’t the NI credit.

TheSpiritofDarkandLonelyWater · 16/09/2025 19:25

Hubblebubble · 16/09/2025 19:24

@TheSpiritofDarkandLonelyWater how do you help people with severe depression?

I dont?

Hubblebubble · 16/09/2025 19:24

@TheSpiritofDarkandLonelyWater how do you help people with severe depression?

TheSpiritofDarkandLonelyWater · 16/09/2025 19:17

Hubblebubble · 16/09/2025 19:11

@MyElatedUmberFinch it's full of excellent advice. What has anyone with depression got to lose by getting into a sleep routine, taking their medication, attending therapy, eating well and moving their body? It's not going to make anyone feel worse is it? Whereas staying the same or actively engaging in harmful behaviours will.

It comes across as telling someone with asthma to just breath more so they can be cured.

Yes all the things listed can help but if the depression is severe then it will very hard to even try to do those things and even then it wont help.

I also hate that work is listed as a way to help. For some people work can make things worse.

MyElatedUmberFinch · 16/09/2025 19:14

Hubblebubble · 16/09/2025 19:11

@MyElatedUmberFinch it's full of excellent advice. What has anyone with depression got to lose by getting into a sleep routine, taking their medication, attending therapy, eating well and moving their body? It's not going to make anyone feel worse is it? Whereas staying the same or actively engaging in harmful behaviours will.

No words.