pension

[millerxxx]

my pal was getting £97 a week pension
he has reached 70
he got a letter stating
as from april he will be getting £62
he is not working no other income
i think this is wrong
what do you people think
thank you

[factor-fiction]

Surely the letter gave an indication as to the reason.
Have you seen the letter? Maybe he has misunderstood what it says

[ubasses]

Think it should read £102, it went up £5 pw.

[rockyracoon]

Has he called the pension people to ask why, it might be an easily rectified mistake.

[millerxxx]

i have seen the letter
he did phone the pension people
he told me
the person on the phone said
thats all he is entitled too

[rockyracoon]

He needs to pay a visit to CAB then, they maybe able to help him.

[factor-fiction]

I think it might be worth ringing back and asking 'why'. And he should also put in a claim for pension credit if that really is all he gets

[millerxxx]

sorry ishould have added
nothing on the paper work
saying why he is not getting the full pension

[mike11111]

There's a rabbit off somewhere here. If he has no other source of income apart from the state pension he should be getting more than £102 per week - he should get pension credits as well to bring the amount up to round about the £130 mark.

[wolf63]

The only way that pension goes down like this is if another income is in payment that reduces his entitlement to pension credit or if he has now got capital that is to be taken into account.

[millerxxx]

thanks a lot for info
i know the man well
as far as i know
he has no n other income
he does odd jobs
his wife works
she has a couple of houses
thanks again

[mike11111]

I did not think that the basic rate state pension was means-tested. Obviously I am wrong. Rather worrying as I will be eligible in two years time and from this may not get the £102 per week I thought.

[sunny-dave]

The basic (contribution based) State pension isn't means tested Mike.

If you've got at least 30 years of NI contributions history (or credits) then you'll get the full pension regardless of other income/assets.

[mike11111]

Phew, that's a relief.

[ubasses]

The basic rate pension is not means tested but would not be the full amount if he has gaps in his National Insurance record. That would not explain how he received the full amount last year though

[ubasses]

Forgot to say as he was born before 1945 he needs 44 qualifying years.

[millerxxx]

hee does not have the 44 yrs of stamps

[woofgang]

I have been having dealings with the tax people and every letter I have had has an explanation of the decision and a number to contact to discuss it.

[factor-fiction]

He needs to claim pension credit then.

I wonder if there is some information here that we don't have

[millerxxx]

as far as i can tell he is telling me the truth
what can stop a person getting the full pension
as i said he does not have the 44 yr stamps

[ubasses]

just that, not enough NI contributions, but that does not explain how he was getting the full £97 previously. As Factor says he will have to claim pension credit, which is means tested, so this would probably be affected by his wifes income and assets.