Becoming a pensioner!!

[angelm54]

UDATE : , thank you are for you replies to this, some good news today, I am getting some help from pension credits, albeit reduced , it still brings me back to my previous payment, the man I spoke to was lovely and even rang me back to confirm everything, happy days xx Morning all, well the birthday came and went last week, I became a pensioner but going to pension from ESA means I have lost almost £100 a month income, but because I get the full pension I can’t claim Pension Credits, I do get PIP but standard rate care and high rate mobility, does anyone know anything about legacy benefits, I didn’t think you could be left worse off than you were , have a good day all xx

[releasethemagic]

The State Pension is quite a bit higher than ESA, so there is something odd here. A full single tier State Pension is £175 a week and ESA Support Group is just over £113. I would advise you to go to the Citizens Advice Bureau with all of your paperwork. Without seeing it all, it is impossible to know what is happening to your benefits.

[angelm54 in reply to releasethemagic]

I had sdp with my esa but you don’t get that with a pension, so my esa was £22 a week more than my pension x

[releasethemagic in reply to angelm54]

You may well be eligible for help with your Council Tax and pensioners tend to get the most help from Councils under the local Reduction Schemes.

[angelm54]

I can’t claim ESA now and the pension is less because of the SDP I was getting x

[angelm54]

Thanks , I will give DWP a ring on Monday x

[Hidden]

Hi, I found it strange that you are worse off, definitely give DWP a ring. Ask about the pension credit because that doesn't sound right to me. Good luck x

[angelm54 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I will ring them on Monday, I think it’s to do with the SDP I was getting x

[Hidden in reply to angelm54]

Even so I don't think it sounds right be good to hear what they have to say. Because when I came off ESA which had the SDP on top, they deducted from that amount my NHS pension which is not a big amount anyway. So when I got my pension I finally received my NHS amount on top and was told I had £4 too much to get Pension Credit. What I find hard to understand is if you are only getting State Pension why the heck can you not get Pension Credit to top it up? xx

[angelm54 in reply to Hidden]

It is all a bit strange but I get the full pension of 175, which is £2 over for pension credits, I have applied for them but heard nothing yet , it’s been about 5 weeks now x

[Hidden in reply to angelm54]

Might have to chase them up angelm x

[angelm54 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I think I will be making a few calls on Monday xx

[DearD]

Could it be because you have to pay tax on your pension?

[angelm54 in reply to DearD]

I really don’t know , I don’t think so as it’s under the tax limit

[Willow51]

As the others have said I would query it. As for SDP, I get my pension and still get my SDP so I would check that out too, I get pension credits but, as far as I know, they don't give you pension credits unless you claim them. Good luck, let us know how you get on xx

[angelm54 in reply to Willow51]

Thank you I will do some ringing round on Monday, if I needed it before pension then I certainly need it after x

[releasethemagic]

The disability premiums are complicated and even the Government website is hard to follow gov.uk/disability-premiums/... so the Citizens Advice Bureau is the best place to get this sorted out.

[angelm54 in reply to releasethemagic]

Thanks I will do some ringing round on Monday x