Pension Credit Home Visit?

[EDDIE51]

We have applied for pension credit and are told we qualify but they say they have to make a home visit before they approve the application. I have never heard of this before anyone else had this? I can not see what they need that we have not already provided .

[grasscarp]

It says here it is to check you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to
http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyandlegal/otherbenefits/Pages/benefits-agency-visitor.aspx

[ubasses]

http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyandlegal/otherbenefits/Pages/benefits-agency-visitor.aspx

Pension credit is included in the above and yes it seems that they can for several reasons.

[boxtops]

I know of people who've had home visits when applying for different benefits.

[Mrsspagnoli57]

Think yourself very lucky. I worked for old DHSS and DWP for 27 years and remember the good old days when home visits were a regular thing. They select a % of new claims to visit nowadays and they can pick up things that you probably hadn't thought about claiming so accept it with good faith-more home visits are a good thing and only done to help.

[EDDIE51]

Thanks it looks like it may be just because i am my wife's carer as she gets DLA.
They did say they would need to see 2 forms of ID at the visit as well so another possibility is just to be sure no ID fraud is being committed.

[Peter Pedant]

There is no doubt they have the power to do so.

I was asked to be present by some old codger - because I am feisty and when I see a govt official my first reflex is to kick him.

and the pension credit lady was a trifle hesitant on her own identification - outsourced it turned out - came out with, the first sentence

I am here to tell you you have been overpaid £500 and how are you gonna re-pay it ?

I coughed and said we have had no chance to make representations to anyone at all on any overpayment -how do we appeal ?

and she said O nothing to do with me.....
and try the appeals address (no you are the first person we have seen)
O this should have been done before (yes I agree, how do we do it ? esp as we havent been given notice)

and a little later, non declaration of private pension - it says here

so I said can I see that bit of paper ? and she said "no its mine."

so I said does it have John Smith's name on it ? (yes)
then it is his data and he has a right to see it. (no)

That bit of paper - does it have an identifier so I can claim it later ? (No)

So she said OK back to payment - how ya gonna do it ?
Oh are you gonna appeal - I have to 'fill in the box' (why)

and that was because otherwise they would start taking the money immediately and so we said we were appealing- and they still started to take the money anyway.


So we appealed on the grounds that the pension had in fact been declared but not acted upon as a result of an office mistake on their part.
( which housing benefit had said had occurred and they wouldnt be claiming it back) coupled with a data subject access request

so yeah be careful
take notes and sharpen your pencil
be prepared for surprises


so this was every old b+gga's nightmare


we idly wondered if there had been an office c+ck-up that they were trying to solve before it got to a tribunal.....

[Yorky Lass]

When I worked for the Pension Service these visits were a regular thing. They want ID to ensure they are talking to the right person. I use to arrange these visits and when I said that two forms of ID would be required I was often asked what type of Forms, I changed it to to types of ID and had no problem. Don't worry it's just routine. They may even be able to tell you of other benefits you are entitled to.