Pension Credit

Who is it for?
People aged 60 or over (only one member of a couple needs to be 60+ to be eligible). Age will rise in line with rises in retirement pension age from April 2010

Who pays it?
The Pension Disability and Carers Service

Which leaflet? And how is it claimed?
Claim line is 0800 991234. Form can be obtained from www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pensioncredit/form.asp .

What are the age limits?
60 or over for guarantee credit; 65 or over for savings credit (but see above for those aged 60-65)
 
National Insurance based?
No

Means tested?
Yes. Savings below £10,000 ignored. No upper capital limit. Savings credit creates a ‘reward’ for modest savings and works/private pensions. 

How long does it last?
For as long as pensioner qualifies. Variations in income/capital may be ignored if claimant is given a fixed ‘assessed income period’.

What is effect on other benefits?
People on guarantee credit get full housing and council tax benefit (even if savings are above £16,000). Savings credit counts as income for HB/CTB purposes.

Is it taxable?
No

Increases for dependants?
Usual rules for couples – i.e. joint claims/assessment. No increases for children – claim CTC instead.

Payable if in EU or other?
For limited period (as per income support)

Points to watch
Backdating now only possible for 13 weeks. Assessments should be checked as TPS staff don’t always spot extra PC entitlement when claimant has Attendance Allowance and/or underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance. Awards of AA or CA can lead to increases in existing PC awards too. Take –up of PC so far is around 75% of those eligible. Telephone claims for PC can also be used to make Housing Benefits and Council Tax Benefit claim.

You can view details of benefit amounts on the Community Care Inform website

The A-Z of Benefits 2009 was compiled by Gary Vaux and Community Care Inform