Pension credit

[Tedy]

I was recently refused help with the payment of my glasses, even though I'm on pension credit and have always had a little help. This time they said i had to be on pc guarantee?. Anyone know what this is? What is the difference?

[Welshcatlady]

The Pension Credit Guarantee is paid if your income (pension and any other income) is below a certain level, not sure of the amount, and then there's Pension Savings Credit, I'm not sure about the criteria to get this one, so I'm adding a couple of links one is the government website and the other is the Which website, where it's explained fully. I'm guessing you are on the Savings Credit where you don't get all the extra help that you get with Pension Credit Guarantee.

which.co.uk/money/pensions-...

gov.uk/pension-credit

Hope this helps

[Tedy in reply to Welshcatlady]

Not really Welshcatlady but thanks for your reply. All I know is because my income is low I'm on pc. No mention of any other type. My bank statement just says pc. The links don't work but again thank you for your time

Just got link to work, but still not helpful

[LadyJoro]

Pension credit guarantee is the new name for pension credit for those on a low income because it guarantees your income is a certain level.

Pension savings credit is for those whose private pensions aren’t enough.

nerdwallet.com/uk/pensions/...

Sounds like the opticians messed up, your entitled to assistance.

[Tedy in reply to LadyJoro]

Thank you LadyJoro. I thought they had. Should I have had any notification about the change in name?

[Welshcatlady in reply to Tedy]

It should state on your letter from the DWP awarding you Pension Credit. My letter reads About your Pension Credit, then Important note about health benefits, next line You have been awarded the Pension Credit guarantee credit, you are also entitled to some health benefits .......

If your letter doesn't say this, I would phone the telephone number on the letter and speak to someone about it. The phone lines get very busy and I found that ringing them when the lines open at 8 am is usually the best time.

From what you say you shouldn't have paid and your optician is in the wrong.

Good luck, hope you get this sorted.

[Tedy in reply to Welshcatlady]

Thank you welshcatlady. I'm going to dig out my letter