When can you claim Pension Credit?

[frank_begbie]

I've read on various sites that you can claim up to 4 months before you are entitled to the benefit.

Does that mean 4 months before your birthday?

 

My birthday is at the beginning of May, does this mean I can start my claim in January/February?

[Marianne7]

Hi. I've just had this experience. I officially retired from last Tuesday (9 months after my 60th because of the "sliding scale" introduced for women). I was told by Pension Credit Helpline that they couldn't process my claim until I had the EXACT amount of pension I would be getting. If you know this already, then I guess maybe you can claim now, but if you only have a pension forecast (as i had when I called) then I don't think they can put the claim through. I may be wrong, but this is what I was told.

[frank_begbie]

Hi. I've just had this experience. I officially retired from last Tuesday (9 months after my 60th because of the "sliding scale" introduced for women). I was told by Pension Credit Helpline that they couldn't process my claim until I had the EXACT amount of pension I would be getting. If you know this already, then I guess maybe you can claim now, but if you only have a pension forecast (as i had when I called) then I don't think they can put the claim through. I may be wrong, but this is what I was told.

 

Thanks for that. I suppose I'll have to give them a ring to get the information I need.

[dpick]

I have been claiming pension credit for approx 2 and a half years and my niece for the last 6 months we were both told that we would not be able to start processing our claim until 6 weeks before date the claim would start in my case on my 60 birthday (in Dec 2008). Do not know how this will affect anyone with the new sliding scale of age entitlement.

 

dpick

[frank_begbie]

I have been claiming pension credit for approx 2 and a half years and my niece for the last 6 months we were both told that we would not be able to start processing our claim until 6 weeks before date the claim would start in my case on my 60 birthday (in Dec 2008). Do not know how this will affect anyone with the new sliding scale of age entitlement.

 

dpick

 

Ok thanks, according to what you say, I should be able to start my claim around the middle of March then.

 

I'll just give em a ring to make sure.

[frank_begbie]

I went to the job centre today and picked up a booklet on pension credit.

 

On the second page it says "the earliest you can apply is four months before you reach the Pension Credit qualifying age".

 

My birthday is 11th of May so I'll be claiming near the end of January next year .

 

Sorted!