Pension credit getter than state pension

[Asosbabe]

£218.50 pension credit a week plus £300 winter fuel payment works out more than full state pension £221.20. AIBU to think it should be means tested properly if they're going to do it. Someone who has paid national insuance for 35 years will be worse off than someone who hasn't paid in at all

Anyone over 70 who has paid full NI contributions, but hasn't been able, for whatever reason, to invest in a private or occupational pension, and does not have substantial savings, will be eligible for Pension Credit. The old state pension was not considered enough to live on, hence pension credit to top it up if you didn't have any other income.

I think you misunderstood me. Maybe I didn't make my point clear. I was trying to say that it's unfair that those who've been responsible and saved up a few quid in their lives get penalised, whereas matey boy over the road who hasn't gets to bag 300 sovs.

Just to add some context to this - my mums pal - lives in a flat, on pension credit, attendance allowance, etc - she is in good health albeit needs a walking aid -in short space of time has accumulated enough to go on a caribbean cruise (in a suite) - there is such a disparity between pensioners and families on tax credits. I am happy for the lady on the cruise - why not ?

You can also receive National Insurance credits via not working, via benefits eg

Child benefit
Unemployment
Universal credit
Etc

So, it is all about working

You can also voluntarily pay for NI credits

Not everyone is able to work

@kirbykirby Not true.

Your state pension is nothing to do with how much you NI you have paid but the number of years you have paid it for. Remember most working age benefits will give you a NI credit so you will have been deemed to have paid.

So someone who spent their entire life on benefits and someone who has paid hundreds of thousands of pounds in NI over their life are entitled to exacrly the same state pension.

@TheThingIsYeah by definition someone who is wholly dependent on the state pension has not "saved up all their life".

If all you have in income is the state pension then you ARE benefit dependent.

If you haven't paid enough NI in any one year, that year doesn't count Even if you're £10 short that year. You can top them up but wonder if it' worth it

If you're in the era you describe, then surely you're on the old state pension? And even if you're getting a full state pension, if that's your only income, you'd be eligible for pension credit?

I think they meant paying in over 35 years v not

No one "pays in", NI is just another tax that is being spent right now on today's benefits.

It’s not that hard to get

You need to work for 35 years

Some do some don’t

No, that's not entirely true. If you pay all your NI contributions but are on the old state pension (ie you're over about 70). then even with a full pension you are still eligible for pension credit.

When the government changed to the new pension, they put it at a level above the level for eligibility for pension credit, but for the very many pensioners still on the old pension, state pension is well below the cut off for pension credit.

What a crazy situation.

Dmum (almost 70) has been shafted.

She gets new style state pension, so £220 is it a week? But nothing else. Not eligible for pension credit. But does get full housing and council tax benefit. The information on the government website says you qualify for pension credit if you either have less than £218 a week OR get housing benefit. It doesn't make sense.

I've applied for PC today for her. Just for the WF payment, and access to other benefits she currently doesn't get.

She was also affected by the increase in pension age for women. If she had been born a few months earlier would have retired at 60, instead of 65.

Winter fuel allowance is now means tested.

That's what I am saying. Saving up a few quid so you are not entirely dependant on the State it seems unfair to have the fuel allowance taken away when those that haven't bothered get to keep it (+ a myriad of other benefits). And god forbid they own their own home. That becomes pointless if you have to sell it to pay for your care whilst Lazy Old Boy over the road gets it for free.

I am glad to read this, and am grateful it has been brought up.

Many comments now about people have not "been bothered" to work to get a pension, and things like "Lazy Old Boy". Talking about PC like it is a "reward" for not bothering to plan better earlier in life.
When the CoL payments were being given out, some people (high earners too) were in uproar because they saw it as a reward given to people who were (in their eyes) too lazy to work, or too lazy to have a better job.
PC is a top for pensioners who, for whatever reason, don't get enough state pension.
What is the alternative? Let them starve and freeze to death? Clearly their fault for not planning things better.
I have not paid enough NIC, and by the time I hit retirement age (which is unlikely), I wont have enough stamp either, so I will be on PC (if it exists).

I'm not sure why anyone is surprised by this. Who could believe what Labour said? This is only the start of taking money from the older age groups. We have some social housing where I live and I see these young ladies traipsing up and down with their kids to school and nursery. One kid, two, why stop at that ? Three - after all they're getting funded. I saw the posts on the local FB group about how these brand new two bed flats weren't up to much 😳 built by a good builder. I see the posts about them unable to walk to the church on a Saturday to get the Tesco free food because they have a little one. Can the church deliver? They don't seem to have a hard time producing more children though? Tighten up on pensioners ? Tighten up on everyone then! These are the people though who Labour are trying to keep sweet.

If you get pension credit you get. Housing benefit if renting. Council tax rebate. Warm homes from provider. Cheap broadband telephone. Social tariff. And the winter fuel allowance. None of that is paid to someone on just state pension.

Has there been a mention of the women who were robbed of several years pension? The Waspi women?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68610680.amp

Labour are also making noises about working age stuff - universal credit, claiming working age benefits, childcare hours, free school meals etc

Most people, whatever age, will probably be affected.

So important to have a good pop at the undeserving poor, eh?

Pension credit is only paid to bring the income up to a maximum of £218.50 a week. If what they get in state pension exceeds the £218 they won't get any extra

Tell the op and the 80% who disagree with you.

Yes, it's people like your Mum who should get the WFA.