I would be grateful for an opinion I have taken early retirement a while back (62 plus a bit) and I receive Pension Credit. Now I can retire "properley" at 65 and take a private pension, or not at this time, I have NOT taken it since award of PCr from Oct 2011 to date, but on the application forms, detailed the scheme etc. Is it correct that the DWP are using a figure based on this to show as an "income" and therefore adjust the amount of Pension Credit even though I am not taking this private fund? They seem to think that because I "could take" this amount they are correct Many thanks

Hello. I'm 65 in a few months time and have received the forms for me to claim the State Pension. Question is, is it the right thing to do? A bit of backround. I recieve, amongst other benefits, ESA of £106.50 a week and Guaranteed Pension Credit of £55.08 a week. When I am 65 the ESA will finish, but the Pension Credit will take up the loss and increase to £161.58 a week. Now my State Pension is £168.69 a week and if I claim it I will lose my Pension Credits. I know that if I did claim it I would be £7 a week better off, but will lose all of the fringe benefits that come with Pension Credit, £135 electricity rebate, cold weather payments, 100% CTB, max HB, NHS travel and a whole load of other add ons. I know that I can make separate claims for the CTB, HB & NHS but it is a pain to be honest with more forms to fill in. I would like to stay as I am, keep my Pension Credits and tell the DWP that I don't want my State Pension. It's not compulsory to claim it I am told. It's just that I would like a quiet life now, no more benefit claim forms and maximise my income with all of the other freebies that go with Pension Credit. Am I missing something and can I do this?

A family member is about to turn 65. They are married but his wife is younger than him. She claims ESA for them both because she has a disability (ESA support group), and he's her carer (so he gets carer's allowance). He's received a letter from the DWP Pension people asking if he would like to go over to pension when he turns 65. He has no idea what to do. They had a struggle getting his wife into the support group of ESA. She also gets DLA (they get housing benefit & council tax reduction). Is there somewhere he can find out what the advantages or disadvantages would be? I know there are a lot of changes coming in re: universal credit, PIP etc and council tax, housing benefit etc. He doesn't know what to do for the best and doesn't want to make the wrong decision which may result in them having less money etc. I know his wife gets ESA because of her disability but if he gets pension for them both does that means she's not classed as being unfit for work any more and will that affect future claims for DLA/PIP renewal? I spoke to CAB on their behalf and they were no help, he just asked if I had access to the internet and gave me the PC claim telephone number. I rang the Benefits enquiry line and the lady suggested that they should move over to PC asap as they would be better off on PC and state pension but when they inform ESA they should ask for NI to still be paid. She said that his wife (the ESA claimant) would still have to comply with all the ESA rules but it would be the pension people that are paying them not ESA. I don't know if that makes any sense, I am a little confused because when the husband spoke to the pension people they said the wife would have to stop claiming ESA (I don't know if it's relevant but the ESA is income related). They also said if the husband doesn't get his pension then they will take the money off the ESA that they claim because it's classed as income he could be getting. I also believe he will be no longer entitled to carer's allowance. It's all a bit of a minefield and they don't know which way to turn.

Hi 12 months ago my wife transferred £14k from her Life Insurance Policy; expected at £8 reduction in benefit but did not hear anything from PC: due to family problems forgot about it until I had a Benefit check last week when I was told by the advisor I was getting £9 per week too much, I phoned PC immediately could not get through so wrote same day explaining (no copy of original letter as hard drive packed up) spoke to someone at PC this monday they had not recieved letter, same day got a Customer Compliance appointment through post for Benefit check, I am taking letter with me, etc can you see any problems

Hi, My husband has a pension that came to light earlier this year. Luckily his parents kept all the letters etc for him & gave it to him after he made contact, hence why it's just come up. Anyways going by the paperwork it says he has approx :£20.000 & its been frozen for over 18years. So he has been looking at ways to do something with it. (he's nearly 51) But unknown to me he got into contact with a introducer who looked into the pension then sent him paperwork about what they can do to help him. Apparently they put the pension into their company & invest it or something & that he will be able to get an £ amount at 55 & then he could reinvest the rest for 10 years before cashing it in. (there's very little paperwork explaining what they do etc) For investing his pension they will charge him a special introductory offer off £1000 (which they take from the pension itself) & then a yearly charge (again special price) of around £300, I think this isn't charged until year 3 or something. Now as the paperwork only came through on Friday, this is the first I've heard off it & when I read the accompanying documents it didn't sit right with me. There's also a permission letter enclosed for him to sign to agree to this. I've looked up the Company & there's very little info on them as it appears Company registered around 2011. I also found a forum where a poster asked about this company & the advice given was basically to avoid as it was a [problem]. Now my husband signed the forms BUT I wouldn't let him post it back as I'm concerned that if it is a [problem] he will end up loosing his frozen pension altogether. He isn't too happy with me doing this but I think he's doing the wrong thing. So any advice would be appreciated please.

Hi guys 12 months ago my wife transferred 14750 to fund various repairs from her life assurance I wrote to pension credit to advice expecting a reduction of£9 week did not hear anything and due to my health problems forgot about it till I hasd a benefit check and was told I was getting too much money I contacted Pension Credit as advised who confirmed they had not received my letter coincidentally I was invited to an interview with a compliance officer who wished to discuss the same I showed him the letters etc only there 10 mins what happens next

Sorry if i have posted in the wrong place but i'm desperate for help. Basically, my elderly parents (70 and 78 years old) have recieved a letter stating 'investigation for benefit fraud' and have to attend an interview next week. They are out of there minds worrying about it and racking their brains as to what its about. They both recieve Attendance Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Benefit. Nearly two years ago my brother moved into their house after leaving his wife, i believe my parents have not told the council that he is there as my father does'nt think they need telling. Possible problem no: 1. Possible problem no: 2, my father was left some inheritance about 18 months ago that i know is in excess of £17,000. My father thinks it could be the latter as i have explained that i'm sure there is a threshold in place that is set by the DWP. Unfortunately, my father was under the illusion that he was able to have this inheritance and that it did not have to be declared. He genuinely thought it wasnt a problem and now is so scared about what will happen to them. What we would like to know is whether they will lose their benefits, i.e, HB and CT and what about their Attendance Allowance? Also, we are scared that they will have to go down the legal route and appear in court, thus recieving a criminal record and ordered to pay back thousands leaving them hard up (the inheritance would be left for us and not spent by them). I would be ever so grateful for your advise on this. Thank you.

Hi, My dad has been admitted to hospital, not looking too good at the moment, he may have to go into care, Have bben looking through his papers and found some of his pension papers, these papers also have Life assurance on them, what is this, does this mean he has a lump sum on his death, for funeral expensis, cant find any thing that telss me what it means. Sorry for numpty question!! thanks for any help. jill

I am trying to work out the new Pension Bills for married couples to be introduced in 2016. The new pension is now to be based on the individuals and not couples. In my case I have worked over 35 years (the qualifying number of years for a pension), but my wife hasn't due to health problems. So I presume that I will receive the new pension rate of £144, but what would happen in the event of my death? would she be left without any type of pension? If she had been working for 35+ years would we have been entitled to the full pension twice i.e. £144x2 because pensions will be based on individuals?

I'll try to stay concise:- My disabled ex-husband (but we still live together!) is coming up for his state pension (65). I am a year older and get 59p a week (I paid small married womans stamp when I was working) plus a DWP pension credit of about £30.00 a week and they pay the INTEREST on the remaining mortgage which has a balance of approx £25,000. Would we better off receiving separate pensions financially or would they regard us as being in a civil partnership.

We had a letter in march from The DWP saying that from the 8th April we would be paid £0.11 a week pension credit. We have now received a letter from the council saying they have suspended our claim because we no longer get pension credit. We are confussed because the DWP are paying it so why would the council say we are not? Do you think the council have made a mistake.

Hi All, As this is my first time on here i am not sure if i have posted in the correct place...so MODS please move if needed. I sent a letter to a company called Cabot Financial requesting that they send me proof of Default Notice that has been marked on my credit file. The original debt was for the Clydesdale Bank where i went over my overdraft because i lost my job. I was unemployed for 7 months and couldnt repay, however, once i got a new job i repaid the amount in full. The value was for £1226. My issue is that the default is listed under Cabot and not the Clydesdale bank and i have NEVER received any default notice from Cabot. I requested that they send me this as i want to try and have this default removed from my account. The default date was 2 years ago. ..since then i have struggled to get any credit at all and i have to wait another 4 years (6 years of punichment is rediculous and the law should be changed). Anyway, i received the following letter back from them: "We acknowledge receipt of your request under section 77/78 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 ("CCA"). There is no need for us to provide a copy of your credit agreement under the CCA for Current Accounts and Overdraft Facilities, as Part V of the CCA does not apply to these types of accounts.The exclusion of Current Accounts falling into Part V of the CCA is set out in section 74(1)(b). I can confirm that your payment of £1226.00 received on 5 March 2012 settled the outstanding balance and the entry on your credit file should now show as "satisfied". With regards to your request for a copy of the original Default Notice, Cabot Credit Management, formerly the Cabot Financial Group ("Cabot") does not hold a copy of the same on file. For clarification, this notice was issued by Clydesdale Bank,theoriginallender prior to theregistration of the default entry with the credit reference agencies (“CRA’s”). For your information, I can confirm that the default entry was registered by Clydesdale Bank on 31 January 2011. Upon assignment of your account to Cabot, Clydesdale Bank removed their entry and this was replaced with an identical entry in our name. Furthermore, I can confirm that there is no requirement under the CCA for Cabot to provide you with a copy of your Default Notice. I note that you have also requested the Deed of Assignment. This document is confidential between the original lender and us and as such, is not available for disclosure. However the Notice of Assignment was originally sent to your postal address on 22 July 2011, which is sufficient evidence to justify our ownership of this account. I trust we have set out our position clearly. If you have any further queries in relation to the above account, please do not hesitate to contact me on 0845 026 0463. The Customer Assurance Department is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday." My query here is how can a company whom i get into debt with, place a default on my file, then remove it because the debt has been paid by an agency, then the agency places a default on my file when i have never had an agreement with them...surely this nulifys my obligation when they have paid the debt for me? Can they actually just go and replace a default with their own? I will be sending them a SAR for all information but i think i will come up against a brick wall again like this letter. Any advice?

Can someone please help me, I retired 3 1/2 years ago at the then qualifying age of 60, a month later my husband was made redundant, he received JSA for a couple of months until the pension people advised me he didn't need to sign on and i could claim Pension credit guarantee for him! He was only 54 at the time, i have now been receiving this pension creidt for him for 3 1/2 years but i am worried we shouldn't really be getting it as he is still of working age, are we really entitled to this?

Hello I put in a claim for Pension Credit back in September last year. Eventually in January this year they agreed that we were entitled to an award of £119.77 a week Guaranteed. I wasn't very happy with delay which caused my credit cards to go up. However I paid the card what I owed with the back pay although I still got stung with a lot of interest but at least it was sorted. Now that £119.77 doesn't include any help with the mortgage interest. The Pension Service keep telling me that they haven't had a form back from the mortgage people despite me having to send three lots of the form. I have spoken to the mortgage people and they say that they have not received any of the three forms that I have sent them or more likely that they have been lost in their office somewhere. They suggest that I arrange for a fourth form now. I have contacted the Pension Service who have said that they will send me another form. I also asked them if I would get the backdated housing costs. They said no it will go to the mortgage people. Well who is going to settle my credit card bill, it now stands at £2600 debt as I am paying the mortgage with the card. I was told to ring the mortgage people after they get the backdated monies and see if they will send the overpayment to me. Does this sound right, do mortgage people send money back? I can't see them doing that, they will just knock it off the capital and leave me with £1000's of debt to try and pay that is on my credit card. I have tried many times to speak with the mortgage people but they say that they have no responsibility over this it is my mortgage, not the Pension Service's. I can't take the form down to them as they don't have a local office, just a call centre and we are both disabled. Any ideas on what I can do and how am I supposed to repay my credit card.

Hello all (first time poster), Please could someone offer any advice or similar experience? Towards the tail-end of 2012, I accepted the offer of a position with a certain organisation with a 6 month probationary period. Part of the package was that the employer would pay an extra 10% on top of my salary into a non-contributory pension scheme. Once there, I discovered that my line manager had taken a dislike to my predecessor who lasted under two weeks before resigning as a result. Unfortunately, it soon became clear that the same line manager had also taken a disliking to myself and made it equally clear that I would not last through the probationary period. I actually lasted the best part of 5 months before resigning as the line manager was making my life ever more intolerable and was also dropping hints that, should I not leave, I would be fired at my six month review and would also suffer from not receiving a decent reference. I noted that the promised pension contributions were not being paid into the pension plan that had been setup and found that the payments were being actively "delayed" by my line-manager. The payments were due to have been made "from day one" and I unearthed that my predecessor's pension plan payments had been similarly delayed by the same manager. The amount which should have been paid into the plan (but wasn't) amounts to nearly £600 and I wondered who that unpaid sum belongs to? It's not in the fund, so has been kept by the employer. I have since raised this, along with other complaints regarding my treatment and reason for resigning - just prior to my 6 month review - with the organisation but they have said they find no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the manager (and to, effectively, "sling-yer-hook"). No comment, in their reply to my complaint, was forthcoming with regard to my query regarding the pension contributions that should have been made. I have no idea who that cash belongs to - but could sorely use it as I am since unemployed. Can someone offer a definitive answer or any other advice, please?

As the title says there is far to much information on the link to post here so this is the link: https://www.gov.uk/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans This is the Title Headings of the info on link only: Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) SPVA strategy and objectives SPVA customers SPVA pay, pensions & administration contract SPVA pensions forms Pensions Armed Forces Attributable Benefits (Pre-6 April 2005) Additional Voluntary Contributions and Stakeholder Pensions AFCS Claim form Armed Forces Attributable Benefits (Pre-6 April 2005) Armed Forces Compensation Armed Forces Pensions and Redundancy Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 75) Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 Central Advisory Committee (CAC) agendas and minutes Commemoration Essential Guide to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Families and dependants The Future Armed Forces Pension Scheme New pension scheme - latest stage How to transfer benefits in and out of the Armed Forces Pension Schemes Members of the Armed Forces Reserve Forces Pension Scheme (RFPS) Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme The Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) The Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation The Criminal Injuries Compensation (Overseas) Scheme Criminal Injuries Compensation (Overseas) Scheme application form The Gurkha Pension Scheme Aviation Archaeology Casualty Reporting Compassionate Casework Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) Death in Service JCCC Post Death Administration JPAC Enquiry Centre Major Incident Centre Estates of Deceased Service Personnel - Unpaid Estates

I currently receive the basic pension plus an "additonal state pension" and an amount of graduated retirement benefit, total £164 pw. When the new flat rate is brought in will my pension be reduced to the £144 flat rate or is that just for new pensioners? Thanks in advance.

Hello all I was sold a "Company Pension Plan - I was a one man band" when self-employed with Ltd company, my company had been running less than six months when sold this pension, based on the information given at the time. I still have the original document where the financial advisor states/recommends that "The only option is a "Company Executive Plan"" - lie he was not whole of market "The pension is fully transferable at no additional cost" - lie, almost half the pension would now be eaten up by transferring it. The reviewer has completely ignored the above comments in the notes I provided and states that there is always a cost involved with transferring the pension. And that costs are still being incurred while keeping the pension going (admin charges). The pension is still now only worth what I actually put into the pension - and that was over 15 years ago. Any advice on how to get this monies back or transferred to another pension, as I have submitted three complaints and 1.75 of the complaints have been upheld against the same advisor who sold me this pension Thanks in advance

Hello all, It's been a while since I've needed help, I'm so confused:- I have several pensions, they are very small occupational and some private pensions that I have paid into. I searched for similar post but keep going round in circles;- OK I have five small pensions that I stopped paying into about 12 years ago,, during a move Lost all details, however the good news is that the pension have moved to different companies, three I have tracked down, the other two are causing me grief, I originally took the pensions with Colonial Mutual, who then went from a Mutual company to a Limited company, I have sort of tracked down who is supposed to be administering these two pension and I'm told that they can find no details. and suggested that I write to another branch, the company is Phoenix Life, original contact was with their Welwyn Garden City Office, the wrote back saying they have no records of my two pension funds, and told me to write to their Romford Branch, this I did, then got a letter from Romford saying they have no records, and told me to write to Britannic assurance and Scottish Mutual in Glasgow, I wrote to both companies a month ago, and still haven't heard anything,I'm concerned that these two funds have disappeared! The reason that I'm chasing is A tricky one, I was made redundant 2 years ago, and of course this has eaten away at my savings so now, I want to release some cash from my pensions to pay off debts and all finance agreements, this will leave me clear to at least have some sort of normality. One group of pensions is worth 24k and I've been told that I can leave it with a pension of £127/p.a., buy annuity, draw a tax free lump sum, and have a pension of £122/p.a, I rather draw the lot as 120quid a year is not worth a lot, and it would be more beneficial to pay off debts and avoid the 1200/p.a interest. Help would be very much appreciated Kind regards A confused Ken

I have just left my employment, not on entirely good terms. In my employment contract it states: You will be entitled to become a member of the Company’s pension scheme and we will pay into an appropriate pension fund on your behalf, on a monthly basis, an amount corresponding to a maximum of 5% of your basic salary (excluding bonus and benefits) subject to any Inland Revenue requirements and overriding legislation. I have been with the company over 2 years, and on many many occasions I have asked for this to be sorted, but they never did. Much was agreed (for all staff, its a small firm) and back payments agreed, but never paid, due mainly to ineffective management and cash flow. What should I do. I have written to say they are contractually obliged to make these contributions and I want to be compensated. But what payments do they have to make to me? the full amount? or do they pay this to an insurance firm?? Not sure. thanks

I was recently made redundant and my employer has paid my 10% salary contribution but also taken 5% from my payment in lieu of notice. I was told that my payment(5%) would not be taken by an advisor - was this incorrect advice?

Hi All Not sure where to start with all this!! Husband received a letter from the Debt Management Corby in July 2010 about an over payment of pension credits of 8K which was amassed Feb 2004 to June 2007. We were both shocked by this and contact the centre same day as he received the letter. They could not give us any information in regards to this and referred us to the pension service. We contacted them and they could not give us any information either. So we wrote to them disputing this amount and asking if they can send details as to how the payments where made i.e. bank,building society or giro. We didn't hear anything from the DWP until Jan 2013. When the DWP said they had reviewed all the "facts" and the overpayment was valid. Well in 2003 my husband opened an PO account and had the benefit he was claiming paid into it, he was in receipt on incapacity benefit then in 2005 he turned 65 and his benefit changed to old age and his statements from the PO show this clearly. We don't know what to do now as no matter we tell them or send them the DWP are insistent he owes this money and they have started to deduct money from his pension. What can I do about it? I am in the process of formulating a complaint and sending the copies of the statements and asking yet again where was and how was the money paid to him! I am so tired of this and frustrated to say the least. Today I contacted the debt place again only to be referred to the pension service cos they can't answer my questions and the pension service refers me back to the debt people again. Surely to God there is somewhere in this country that can help me get this resolved! Sorry for the rant and any help will be appreciated. x

Hi all, From my previous job I had subscribed to my employer Life and Assurance Pension Scheme (normally I can withdraw the money only at 60 years old). I started being sick when still working with this employer. However, until today (6 years later) due to my remaining sickness I cannot work and I would like to know if I can cancel this scheme in goal to use it money for my present need (health and social). I may have around £5000 in this scheme. Thanks in advance for your help,

Hello Everyone, I would like some advice with regards to a pensioner who receive State Pension and Pension Credit including Housing Benefit. The person want to go abroad to warmer climate during the severe UK winter. The person suffer from severe breathing difficulties and other ailments and is in his mid 80s. Can someone please advice me how long can a person be abroad before their benefits stop and housing benefits as well. I have a guess about the benefits but the Housing Benefits I have no idea at all how long a person can be away and still be able to claim housing benefits. Any reply would be much aprpeciated. helen

hi all just wondering if anyone can offer some advice re my mother in laws pension credit application basically back in june my father in law suffered a severe stroke which has left him partially paralysed and unable to speak,he has gone into full time residential care and unfortunately my mother in law has now lost his pension and some of his dla money so we were advised to apply for pension credit for her when i first enquired i was told a representative of the benefits agency could visit her and sort everything out but basically she is elderly has just suffered all the stress of the stroke and its aftermath and doesnt handle/understand interviews or officialdom very well !! i told the guy this and he said dont worry then just apply online so we did that but she then got a call again requesting an interview and although she agreed without really realising what was happening,she then cancelled as it was scheduled for the same day as an important operation for her husband.the lady who she spoke to was very off about the cancellation and seemed to suggest they could not process her application without the interview so my question is do you have to be interviewed at home in regards to a pension credit application or can you refuse this? has anyone got a draft letter i may use to find out the situation and to decline said interviews requesting the application proceed as a postal one only? many thanks for any help and advice