Welcome to York & District Citizen's Advice Bureau's advice column. This month, we look at Pension Credit
Q. What is Pension Credit?
A. Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit for older people. It has two parts and clients can claim either or both. The two parts are: a guarantee credit, replacing the minimum income guarantee (MIG) for people aged 60 or over; and a savings credit, available to people aged 65 or over with a small amount of income or savings
Q. Does Pension Credit include additions for dependent children?
A. No. Anyone responsible for a child should claim child tax credit and child benefit.
Q. Who administers Pension Credit?
A. The Pension Service: in England, Wales and Scotland, part of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The Pension Service has offices dealing with claims from people in particular regions.
Clients can contact the service by telephone, in writing, at a Pension Service surgery, or through other organizations, including their local benefits office, local housing benefit or council tax benefit office.
Q. Who is eligible for the guarantee credit?
A. Anyone aged 60 or over, who:
has the right to reside, satisfies the habitual residence test and is not subject to immigration control, is not temporarily absent from the UK for more than four weeks, (or eight weeks if taking a child abroad for medical treatment), and has no income, or only income below a specified amount.
Q. Who is eligible for the savings credit?
A. Anyone with a heterosexual partner aged 65 or over, and who satisfies the habitual residence test and is not subject to immigration control is not temporarily absent from the UK for more than four weeks, or eight weeks if taking a child abroad for medical treatment, and has income between certain limits.
If you have a query about this, or anything else, contact 3 Blossom Street, York, YO24 1AU, Telephone 0870 126 4850, Fax 01904 620571, E-mail admin@yorkcab.org.uk. Our services are detailed on our website, www.yorkcab.org.uk.
Updated: 09:23 Thursday, September 09, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article