Pension credit only £3 less than State Pension

[SpanishBaguette]

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?

You should be getting carer’s credits in that case

I completely disagree with this. I'm 57 and have had a private pension since I was 25. There has been publicity about having to save for your retirement for many more years than just since auto-enrollment became a thing.

@fastingforweightloss I can't really envy someone who has had such a small limited life and achieved very little.

I've no idea how some people just have no fire in their belly ?

I can't imagine being this passive.

These posters are either a bit dense or trolling the thread maybe both 🤔

Pension credit needs to be reduced, not the other way round. And if people claiming it own houses or have any other assets they should not be eligible.

But people aren't complaining about that. They are complaining about the unfairness because if someone has put a small amount of money away they don't get pension,credit or housing benefit or council tax benefit or free dental treatment etc. Whereas someone who hasn't worked at all and who gets pension credit will get all of the above.

No one is complaining about people who are genuinely disabled. It's the tens if not hundreds of thousands of people who make claim
benefits as a lifestyle choice including my own relatives.

You get automatic pension contributions for the years that you claim child benefit, so she should have been able to get these as a SAHM.

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

Well that says a lot about your character.

When the WFA was threatened we were told how it would mean pensioners freezing to death.

So what happens when you make a big cut to pension credit?

Those people usually have children so it's not practical for the state to not step in

How practical do you think it is for the state to allow elderly people to starve in cold houses?

I don't like the fact that some perfectly able people go through life not supporting themselves any more than you do, but we have a welfare system and it's the correct way for a civilised society to work.

Yes, but that was always just political spin. And unfortunately Starmer is so scared of the left of his party that he’s done a U turn on every attempt to cut the benefits bill down to size.

Can you even imagine?

I'd always rather have my own money. The state can always change or withdraw benefits or support schemes. Your money is always your momey to spend how you please. Never under estimate the value of financial freedom.

Given the cost of living crisis, I'm afraid they may not be! If I tot up my bills outside of the mortgage, I come up with £24k per year. Add in a holiday and that's probably taking you close to £30k. Add in any house maintenance or days out and you're creeping closer to the moderate retirement numbers they suggest.

Either way, at that point, you're well over the state pension amount and the minimum lifestyle figure of £14300.

But they/you are complaining about the "disabled" because they/you know nothing about anybody,

It's not the left though is it?

I believe both the Tory Party and Reform are committed to restoring the WFA.

Yes, this. I have relatives who did not work very much at all and claimed benefits instead. They now get pension credits, benefits etc live in council/housing trust accommodation and get all rent/council tax/house repairs paid. They also get free dental treatment and any additional payments as and when the government gives them out for utility bills rising etc/winter fuel allowance etc.
For those of us who bought our property, struggle to afford upkeep of that property, work f/t hours in the knowledge that if we need care our houses will be sold to pay for it, whereas others who haven’t worked will have it paid for, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

However, I am actually just pleased that they are looked after, I wouldn’t want people to be living in poverty and struggling in their old age. I don’t know what the answer is but we all make our choices. A lot of us will probably actually be worse off than someone gettting pension credit in retirement, this is especially true as it is a gateway benefit for other payments/free treatment etc.
There are a lot of people who don’t have a private pension pot or have a very small one, a lot of us are single parents with disabled children who haven’t been able to afford to pay into a private pension etc so will only get the full state pension.
I think working should definitely make people better off but the answer isn’t to strip benefits from the people on the lowest incomes.

So there should be a feckless test?

Did you spend your time on benefits properly? Let's have a list of "proper" behaviour for everyone. And then let's check how long they spend on those activities. Only three hours a week, sorry you need to prove you spent at least five hours a day for at least three days a week to get this.

Oh you volunteered by showing up to a PTA meeting and then did nothing else? Sorry, you don't get any money.

It is utterly unworkable and costs more money than it's worth and would have to be paid by taxpayers.

It also applies to people who want others to be impoverished, and are then surprised when the impoverished undercut them for work and opportunities at the best, and turn to crime and prey on them at the worst.

Be careful what sort of sociability you wish for.

Perhaps they should stop doing it so the ppl they care for will likely end up in hospital Then @MinniemouseDisney can enjoy a lovely two day wait in A and E if she gets ill as the beds will be full.

OK so the reason people can claim PC and still own their house is because there's not much point forcing someone to sell up and realise their capital if they don't have anywhere to live. Yes they could in theory buy somewhere cheaper but that's not always easy in later life, given health issues, plus you would be potentially uprooting people from communities either all the attend problems that could cause. Also once again, the vast majority of people claiming PC will have contributed to the system through work and or caring responsibilities.

Carers allowance provides carers credits but as of now anyway, if you are a carer then you can still get pension credit I believe.

Well. It’s the same for me. Luckily I have private pensions as well. It doesn’t seem fair, but at least I never have to justify what I’m doing to anyone. Whst I get is benefit top ups free.