Pension credits behind. Can't afford glasses/ dentist

[JustBeGoodToMeToMe]

So my ESA stopped a month ago when l turned 66. I will receive my first pension payment 20th December ( it's paid in arrears) ..so that's 6 weeks without any payment. I applied for pension credits at the same time. I am entitled to these but they are five months behind awarding and paying.
I need my award letter for the opticians and dentist .
My glasses have broke and my eye sight has changed but the optician needs to see my award letter for my vouchers so l can get free glasses.
I've rung and rung pension credits.. telling them this .. ( I'm wearing old glasses stuck together with super glue and they won't fold and really need newer lenses) . But all they will say it's being processed and they are behind.

Contact your mp.

Hi,
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. If you can't manage the wait without money for livjng - or your glasses - would an advance on your pension be helpful?

https://www.gov.uk/short-term-benefit-advance

I am assuming that supermarket glasses are no good to see you through?

If it would help you can request to have your State Pension paid weekly.
You just need to ring them and request it. You do not need any specific reason to have it paid weekly.

Yes l know.. but it's still same start date as I'd have it monthly. That doesn't get me my voucher though. I need my pension credits for that.
I can't afford my glasses out of my state pension.
Pension credits gets you them for free.

I was made redundant in August and my glasses broke on cue, just as money was getting tight so I had to wait too.

I have my opticians appt today, New prescription, then new glasses. It's annoying, but you aren't the only one walking around with superglued glasses. There's probably loads of us. It's a new skill 🙄

Hope it gets sorted soon. 🤗

You could try Turn2us to see if there is any funding available for you.

If your prescription is simple, you can get old glasses frames reglazed quite cheaply. You can also get cheap frames on eBay if you have none spare.

Here for example but I've seen simple lenses for as little as £10

No l have beginning of cataracts and l also need tinted lenses .. l get those on prescription too.
I'm also disabled .. use a wheelchair / zimmer frame/ wet room/ etc etc.
I've rang Age UK...Scope..turn to us ..my daughter contacted other.. honestly no way round it until l get my award letter... now l could lend the money.. but I'd have to pay back whoever l lend it from...which will be hard... but l get them free with pension credits..

I take it that your Daughter is unable to help you out. Hopefully you will get it sorted soon enough.

What are you hoping people will suggest, because you seem to be rejecting all practical suggestions?
Do you just want to be heard and get a bit of empathy?

Other people might be in same situation.. l don't want empathy... five months is too much for them to sort pension credits..

Others might need the money for energy or something... l could do with the £320 pension credits to have my heating on more.
£320 a month is a lot to some of us.. yes it will get back dated.. but most of us need it now.

Complete an HC1 form which you can download online, or may be able to get from your dentist or optician. It's for people on a low income. Not sure how long it will take to process, but it might be quicker than your Guaranteed Pension Credit. Good luck!

But what are you expecting folk on MN to actually do to help?

Didnt see many comments like this when there was the Child Benefit fuck up and it was paid REALLY late
Parents were coming on here to sound off and have a moan
@JustBeGoodToMeToMe is entitled to do the same

It might help if you read all the comments, including the one where I asked if she just wanted a bit of empathy, as opposed to practical suggestions (because she was writing them all off). She replied no to the empathy thing too though. 🤔

Have you tried your council to see if they have emergency funding?

Here's a list of possible ways to get emergency help

Pension credits are taking a ridiculously long time to process at the moment due to thousands of pensioners trying to claim them due to winter fuel payment being stopped. I work in benefits advice for older people and some claims are taking six months, one of my clients has just been awarded and they applied in June ! I don't think the wait for state pension should be that long though, they do sent the letter to claim through three months before you turn state pension age. You can also request it be paid weekly if that helps. Second what others say about contacting your MP.

Yes they gave me the HC1 form... but you still need your award letter.
How does the optician know I've been awarded pension credits without proof?
They can't even e mail the award letter.

Ask them to post the letter to you.

Sorry about your glasses how much do you pay for them. Can you not just get a cheap pair to get you by I have done that before got a pair for £25. at speccsavers.

If you don't want to borrow off a person do you have a credit card. Only use it for your glasses the repayments would be very low.

But they should be free.

Have you any family / friends who could lend you the money? I would certainly lend a friend money for glasses if they didn't have form for asking.

No l have beginning of cataracts and l also need tinted lenses .. l get those on prescription.
If you get the tinted lenses on prescription you don't pay for those you will only need to pay for frames. As I said before get a cheap pair.

I have four or five pairs of old frames. Does anyone know of a charity that receives them for people in need?

Are you getting guaranteed pension credit as you still have to pay if not.