On 2 Aug 2020 at 10:05:22 BST, "T i m" wrote:

On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 07:31:35 +0100, Farmer Giles
wrote:

snip

Don't pension credits stop when you reach pensionable age? (Assuming
you haven't accumulated enough before then.)


Pension credits do, but Pension Credit is a top-up for those over 60
with no pension or otherwise on a low-income. That's what the poster meant.

I did indeed and didn't think the two things were different (but
understand how they can be etc).

Eg, initially they may be a top up *towards* your pension (unable to
continue working near retirement age) and then it became a topup *of*
your pension if you weren't above a specific threshold?


I've just looked this up for someone - 70, but doesn't receive the full
pension (he gets about £150) because, he says, he hasn't paid full NI.

According to the Age Concern Calculator, he should now get pension and savings
credit, pushing his weekly income up to about the full pension. Plus other
benefits, like council tax rebates.

So if that's correct, he could be a few thousand better off if he claims. Does
seem a bit perverse to me - IIUC somebody on the basic 'full' pension with no
other income wouldn't be entitled to these credit-benefits.

--
Cheers, Rob