On 02/08/2020 13:34, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 12:41, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 11:41:14 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be over
the
state pension age. Which isÂ* some what variable dependant on your
sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans
to
push it even higher.

If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was certainly
over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for someone who was
that age.

Presumably a woman. State pension age for men has been 65 for a very
long time. They shifted women from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2018.


No, it wasn't a woman. Pension Credit could be claimed by anyone over
sixty who met certain criteria. I accept that it's different now.

You don't have to claim NI credits (which is what you mean) if you are
male and over aged 60.
They are applied by DWP automatically.

Pension credit is something different and has to be claimed by someone
who doesn't get the full state pension for other reasons and has less
than ?16K savings

On 02/08/2020 18:27, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 11:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 09:55, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 07:31:35 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

But there are still free licences aren't there, over 75 and on
pension
credits, 1.5M of them?

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

Pension credits do, ...

What are "pension credits"?

... 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.

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be over the
state pension age. Which isÂ* some what variable dependant on your sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans to
push it even higher.


If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was
certainly over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for someone
who was that age.

You're thinking of the automatic NI credits that males over aged 60 get
if they are not paying any NI, for any reason.

These are convenient for someone who was contracted out for many years
but not working after 60. The 5 years of NI credits cancel out 5 years
of contracting out deductions so you get a slightly better state pension.


Now I am not. I was referring to Pension Credit as it was a few years
back - and could definitely be claimed by someone over sixty.

On 02/08/2020 16:12, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 14:40:14 +0100, "tim..."
wrote:

snip

Where are they going to get a b/w TV that receives digital TV?

dunno

7,000 per year manage it

And how many get 'found out'?

The irony being if they live on their own and don't have any TV
watching visitors, *no one* would know if it was colour or b/w?

Cheers, T i m


Nearly all the alleged B&W TVs are in Northern Ireland. Odd that.

On 02/08/2020 13:49, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 12:14:50 +0100, "tim..."
wrote:
snip

I think the biggest insult is what I remember being only a tiny
discount to 'viewers' (as that's the primary interface of 'TV'
(compared with radio)) who were registered blind?

OTOH

there shouldn't be any problem with the blind getting by with a B&W TV

Assuming you can get B&W TV's these days? I wonder if you could get a
colour TV 'locked down' making it B&W only in a way that would satisfy
the BBC (if tested)?

Cheers, T i m


Just use something like an old Humax HD FOX T2 connected to an
amp and speakers and don't bother with a monitor. It has a
channel display on the front so can be used without a monitor.

On 02/08/2020 18:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:27, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 11:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 09:55, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 07:31:35 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

But there are still free licences aren't there, over 75 and on
pension
credits, 1.5M of them?

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

Pension credits do, ...

What are "pension credits"?

... 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.

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be over the
state pension age. Which isÂ* some what variable dependant on your sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans to
push it even higher.


If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was
certainly over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for
someone who was that age.

You're thinking of the automatic NI credits that males over aged 60 get
if they are not paying any NI, for any reason.

These are convenient for someone who was contracted out for many years
but not working after 60. The 5 years of NI credits cancel out 5 years
of contracting out deductions so you get a slightly better state pension.


Now I am not. I was referring to Pension Credit as it was a few years
back - and could definitely be claimed by someone over sixty.

But not a bloke !!.

On 02/08/2020 18:54, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:27, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 11:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 09:55, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 07:31:35 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

But there are still free licences aren't there, over 75 and on
pension
credits, 1.5M of them?

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

Pension credits do, ...

What are "pension credits"?

... 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.

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be over the
state pension age. Which isÂ* some what variable dependant on your sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans to
push it even higher.


If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was
certainly over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for
someone who was that age.

You're thinking of the automatic NI credits that males over aged 60 get
if they are not paying any NI, for any reason.

These are convenient for someone who was contracted out for many years
but not working after 60. The 5 years of NI credits cancel out 5 years
of contracting out deductions so you get a slightly better state
pension.


Now I am not. I was referring to Pension Credit as it was a few years
back - and could definitely be claimed by someone over sixty.

But not a bloke !!.

Yes, definitely. I helped a male relative claim it in 2008 - he was 62
at the time. He was awarded the Pension Credit guaranteed credit. It was
a top-up benefit - he had some other income.

On 02/08/2020 16:09, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 14:39:03 +0100, "tim..."
wrote:

snip

We have some, no debts plus I'm living with an older woman. ;-)

who gets a *single* pension?

Someone living as a couple where only one is old enough to claim their
state pension?


snip

anyone with an OAP pension and more than about 50K is going to find the
calculation for PC says "no"

And I'm pretty sure it's not that either.

It's not what?

anywhere near 50k pa.

Who are the best people to go to for advice on such things, if there
are such?

Age concern,

CAB

find an online calculator

OK, ta.

But if "living with" means not married to,

Nope, we are married (her idea and she paid for the certificate,
surprisingly). ;-)

then your partner's pension needs
will be assessed on a single person basis

Which is how I think it is now.

(though perversely probably take
into account your contributions to family costs)

Which are nil. When I was working I was on a reasonable wage so was
able to pay for this modest 3 bed cottage (and have no other loans or
debts) when I was 40.

And, making the same assumption as before, that this income is enough for
the two of you to live on,

You cut your cloth ... ;-)

I can't see how the numbers will swing towards
you being entitled to anything.

Well, I never assumed they would, like I said, we have never claimed
for anything, just got those things that most qualifying got (like
winter fuel allowance).

The MIG is pretty low. It is set at subsistence level

Ok?

Cheers, T i m


I think you could get Pension Credit now - as a couple - if your
partner/wife is over pension age.

On 02/08/2020 18:59, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:54, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:27, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 11:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 09:55, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 07:31:35 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

But there are still free licences aren't there, over 75 and on
pension
credits, 1.5M of them?

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

Pension credits do, ...

What are "pension credits"?

... 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.

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be over the
state pension age. Which isÂ* some what variable dependant on your sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans to
push it even higher.


If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was
certainly over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for
someone who was that age.

You're thinking of the automatic NI credits that males over aged 60 get
if they are not paying any NI, for any reason.

These are convenient for someone who was contracted out for many years
but not working after 60. The 5 years of NI credits cancel out 5 years
of contracting out deductions so you get a slightly better state
pension.


Now I am not. I was referring to Pension Credit as it was a few years
back - and could definitely be claimed by someone over sixty.

But not a bloke !!.

Yes, definitely. I helped a male relative claim it in 2008 - he was 62
at the time. He was awarded the Pension Credit guaranteed credit. It was
a top-up benefit - he had some other income.

https://www.housingcare.org/downloads/kbase/2106.pdf

On 02/08/2020 18:52, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 13:49, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 12:14:50 +0100, "tim..."
wrote:
snip

I think the biggest insult is what I remember being only a tiny
discount to 'viewers' (as that's the primary interface of 'TV'
(compared with radio)) who were registered blind?

OTOH

there shouldn't be any problem with the blind getting by with a B&W TV

Assuming you can get B&W TV's these days? I wonder if you could get a
colour TV 'locked down' making it B&W only in a way that would satisfy
the BBC (if tested)?

Just use something like an old Humax HD FOX T2 connected to an
amp and speakers and don't bother with a monitor. It has a
channel display on the front so can be used without a monitor.

Probably still counts as colour in the same way that VCRs do, even if
feeding a b/w set.

--
Max Demian

On 02/08/2020 19:13, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:59, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:54, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:27, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 11:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 09:55, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 07:31:35 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

But there are still free licences aren't there, over 75 and on
pension
credits, 1.5M of them?

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

Pension credits do, ...

What are "pension credits"?

... 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.

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be over
the
state pension age. Which isÂ* some what variable dependant on your
sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans to
push it even higher.


If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was
certainly over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for
someone who was that age.

You're thinking of the automatic NI credits that males over aged 60
get
if they are not paying any NI, for any reason.

These are convenient for someone who was contracted out for many years
but not working after 60. The 5 years of NI credits cancel out 5 years
of contracting out deductions so you get a slightly better state
pension.


Now I am not. I was referring to Pension Credit as it was a few
years back - and could definitely be claimed by someone over sixty.

But not a bloke !!.

Yes, definitely. I helped a male relative claim it in 2008 - he was 62
at the time. He was awarded the Pension Credit guaranteed credit. It
was a top-up benefit - he had some other income.

https://www.housingcare.org/downloads/kbase/2106.pdf


Very ambiguous. The only example for the guarantee credit is for a
female who would have been getting her state pension anyway. It was
never possible for a bloke to get his actual state pension before 65,
so your relative must have been claiming some other benefits.

The only examples of a male are already over 65 and in the section
about savings credit which was only intended for the over 65's.

Hopefully Universal Credit and the flat state pension will do away
with documents like that.

On 02/08/2020 19:13, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:59, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:54, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:27, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 11:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 09:55, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 07:31:35 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

But there are still free licences aren't there, over 75 and on
pension
credits, 1.5M of them?

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

Pension credits do, ...

What are "pension credits"?

... 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.

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be over
the
state pension age. Which isÂ* some what variable dependant on your
sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans to
push it even higher.


If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was
certainly over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for
someone who was that age.

You're thinking of the automatic NI credits that males over aged 60
get
if they are not paying any NI, for any reason.

These are convenient for someone who was contracted out for many years
but not working after 60. The 5 years of NI credits cancel out 5 years
of contracting out deductions so you get a slightly better state
pension.


Now I am not. I was referring to Pension Credit as it was a few
years back - and could definitely be claimed by someone over sixty.

But not a bloke !!.

Yes, definitely. I helped a male relative claim it in 2008 - he was 62
at the time. He was awarded the Pension Credit guaranteed credit. It
was a top-up benefit - he had some other income.

https://www.housingcare.org/downloads/kbase/2106.pdf


I just tried the online calculator at gov.uk and input this DOB
01/01/1958, so mimicking a 62-yo male, and got this response :-

https://pensioncreditcalculator.dwp....on-outcome.php

Pension Credit calculator
You are not eligible for Pension Credit

It's too early for you to apply for Pension Credit because you haven't
reached Pension Credit age.

You may become eligible on: 01 January 2024

However, your partner may be eligible to claim Pension Credit if they
haven't already. They can use this calculator to see if they are eligible.
Print your calculation
================================================== ====

Looks like they have noticed the ambiguity in its wording and made
some changes. I wouldn't mind betting that it was only ever intended
for females age 60 or over.

Hmmm, I chose print calculation and see there is a Print to PDF
option now. Something else I didn't know existed in Win 10 (or W7)

On 02/08/2020 20:17, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 19:13, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:59, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:54, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:27, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 11:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 09:55, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 07:31:35 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

But there are still free licences aren't there, over 75 and on
pension
credits, 1.5M of them?

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

Pension credits do, ...

What are "pension credits"?

... 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.

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be
over the
state pension age. Which isÂ* some what variable dependant on
your sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans to
push it even higher.


If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was
certainly over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for
someone who was that age.

You're thinking of the automatic NI credits that males over aged
60 get
if they are not paying any NI, for any reason.

These are convenient for someone who was contracted out for many
years
but not working after 60. The 5 years of NI credits cancel out 5
years
of contracting out deductions so you get a slightly better state
pension.


Now I am not. I was referring to Pension Credit as it was a few
years back - and could definitely be claimed by someone over sixty.

But not a bloke !!.

Yes, definitely. I helped a male relative claim it in 2008 - he was
62 at the time. He was awarded the Pension Credit guaranteed credit.
It was a top-up benefit - he had some other income.

https://www.housingcare.org/downloads/kbase/2106.pdf


Very ambiguous. The only example for the guarantee credit is for a
female who would have been getting her state pension anyway. It was
never possible for a bloke to get his actual state pension before 65,
so your relative must have been claiming some other benefits.

We weren't talking about the state pension, but about Pension Credit -
which my 'male' relative definitely got well before being 65.



The only examples of a male are already over 65 and in the section
about savings credit which was only intended for the over 65's.

It says quite clearly (in 2006) that the 'guarantee credit' part of
Pension Credit was payable to 'people' aged 60 and over.

On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 19:03:49 +0100, Farmer Giles
wrote:

snip

Well, I never assumed they would, like I said, we have never claimed
for anything, just got those things that most qualifying got (like
winter fuel allowance).

The MIG is pretty low. It is set at subsistence level


I think you could get Pension Credit now - as a couple - if your
partner/wife is over pension age.

Thanks. Is it something you do / start / check / online?

Cheers, T i m

On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 18:51:07 +0100, Andrew
wrote:

snip

The irony being if they live on their own and don't have any TV
watching visitors, *no one* would know if it was colour or b/w?


Nearly all the alleged B&W TVs are in Northern Ireland. Odd that.

Out of the range of the detector vans? ;-)

Cheers, T i m

On 02/08/2020 21:28, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 19:03:49 +0100, Farmer Giles
wrote:

snip

Well, I never assumed they would, like I said, we have never claimed
for anything, just got those things that most qualifying got (like
winter fuel allowance).

The MIG is pretty low. It is set at subsistence level


I think you could get Pension Credit now - as a couple - if your
partner/wife is over pension age.

Thanks. Is it something you do / start / check / online?

Cheers, T i m


I've tried already. If you have not reached state pension age,
computer says NO. See my post at 21:03, but try with your
actual details.

On 02/08/2020 21:28, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 19:03:49 +0100, Farmer Giles
wrote:

snip

Well, I never assumed they would, like I said, we have never claimed
for anything, just got those things that most qualifying got (like
winter fuel allowance).

The MIG is pretty low. It is set at subsistence level


I think you could get Pension Credit now - as a couple - if your
partner/wife is over pension age.

Thanks. Is it something you do / start / check / online?

Cheers, T i m


I've had no dealings with any of this for many years, but it used to be
the case that if a person was under pension age but their partner was
over they would get Pension Credit at the rate for couples. Check with CAB.

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

On 01/08/2020 23:38, Custos Custodum wrote:
On Sat, 01 Aug 2020 22:16:10 +0100, T i m wrote:

On Sat, 1 Aug 2020 18:03:26 +0100, Andrew
wrote:

Anyone had the letter from TV LIcensing yet ?.

BBC Moneybox says they will send out letters, so any emails,
texts or phone calls will be from scammers. Some folks will
fall for a scammer though.

But there are still free licences aren't there, over 75 and on pension
credits, 1.5M of them?

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.

Ah. I didn't know that.

On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 21:36:17 +0100, Andrew
wrote:

On 02/08/2020 21:28, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 19:03:49 +0100, Farmer Giles
wrote:

snip

Well, I never assumed they would, like I said, we have never claimed
for anything, just got those things that most qualifying got (like
winter fuel allowance).

The MIG is pretty low. It is set at subsistence level


I think you could get Pension Credit now - as a couple - if your
partner/wife is over pension age.

Thanks. Is it something you do / start / check / online?


I've tried already. If you have not reached state pension age,
computer says NO. See my post at 21:03, but try with your
actual details.

Yes, just did (thanks, both ways round), Bzzzzzzz. ;-(

Cheers, T i m

On 02/08/2020 22:37, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 21:36:17 +0100, Andrew
wrote:

On 02/08/2020 21:28, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 19:03:49 +0100, Farmer Giles
wrote:

snip

Well, I never assumed they would, like I said, we have never claimed
for anything, just got those things that most qualifying got (like
winter fuel allowance).

The MIG is pretty low. It is set at subsistence level


I think you could get Pension Credit now - as a couple - if your
partner/wife is over pension age.

Thanks. Is it something you do / start / check / online?


I've tried already. If you have not reached state pension age,
computer says NO. See my post at 21:03, but try with your
actual details.

Yes, just did (thanks, both ways round), Bzzzzzzz. ;-(

Cheers, T i m


I looked it up, and it seems that the rules changed (again) last year.
Now both partners have to be over pensionable age in order to claim. If
your current status was the same prior to the 15th May last year, then
you could try making a retrospective claim - although you're probably
out of time for that.

Again, it 'used' to be the case that once you were awarded Pension
Credit you got it for five years even if your circumstances changed, so
had you have claimed it last year you would still get it now.

On 2 Aug 2020 at 21:07:40 BST, "Farmer Giles" wrote:

On 02/08/2020 20:17, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 19:13, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:59, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:54, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:27, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 11:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 09:55, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 07:31:35 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

But there are still free licences aren't there, over 75 and on
pension
credits, 1.5M of them?

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

Pension credits do, ...

What are "pension credits"?

... 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.

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be
over the
state pension age. Which isÂ* some what variable dependant on
your sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans to
push it even higher.


If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was
certainly over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for
someone who was that age.

You're thinking of the automatic NI credits that males over aged
60 get
if they are not paying any NI, for any reason.

These are convenient for someone who was contracted out for many
years
but not working after 60. The 5 years of NI credits cancel out 5
years
of contracting out deductions so you get a slightly better state
pension.


Now I am not. I was referring to Pension Credit as it was a few
years back - and could definitely be claimed by someone over sixty.

But not a bloke !!.

Yes, definitely. I helped a male relative claim it in 2008 - he was
62 at the time. He was awarded the Pension Credit guaranteed credit.
It was a top-up benefit - he had some other income.

https://www.housingcare.org/downloads/kbase/2106.pdf


Very ambiguous. The only example for the guarantee credit is for a
female who would have been getting her state pension anyway. It was
never possible for a bloke to get his actual state pension before 65,
so your relative must have been claiming some other benefits.

We weren't talking about the state pension, but about Pension Credit -
which my 'male' relative definitely got well before being 65.


+1 - a friend retired early (62 about 6 years ago IIRC) because he became
eligible for PC. In fact, it was his preferred option because he didn't want a
job, and PC meant he was no longer required to look for work. That's how he
explained it to me, anyway.

--
Cheers, Rob

"T i m" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 14:39:03 +0100, "tim..."
wrote:

snip

We have some, no debts plus I'm living with an older woman. ;-)

who gets a *single* pension?

Someone living as a couple where only one is old enough to claim their
state pension?

FTAOD, my previous question was to be interpreted as:

"is that person old enough to receive their pension" I had not doubt that
they were only entitled to a single person one if their partner is under
pensionable age.

I see that you have answered this point elsewhere

snip

anyone with an OAP pension and more than about 50K is going to find the
calculation for PC says "no"

And I'm pretty sure it's not that either.

It's not what?

anywhere near 50k pa.

Who are the best people to go to for advice on such things, if there
are such?

Age concern,

CAB

find an online calculator

OK, ta.

But if "living with" means not married to,

Nope, we are married (her idea and she paid for the certificate,
surprisingly). ;-)

Oh, OK.

I wonder why you were so coy about it :-)

then your partner's pension needs
will be assessed on a single person basis

Which is how I think it is now.

(though perversely probably take
into account your contributions to family costs)

Which are nil. When I was working I was on a reasonable wage so was
able to pay for this modest 3 bed cottage (and have no other loans or
debts) when I was 40.

I'm surprised that if you have no savings, and no job

you don't sign on for "unemployment" benefits

And, making the same assumption as before, that this income is enough for
the two of you to live on,

You cut your cloth ... ;-)

But two people living on 7 grand a year

must be tough


I can't see how the numbers will swing towards
you being entitled to anything.

Well, I never assumed they would, like I said, we have never claimed
for anything, just got those things that most qualifying got (like
winter fuel allowance).

being married changes things

"T i m" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 14:40:14 +0100, "tim..."
wrote:

snip

Where are they going to get a b/w TV that receives digital TV?

dunno

7,000 per year manage it

And how many get 'found out'?

presumably none of them

there's few enough for them to check

It's not like TV Licensing doesn't know here they live

"Farmer Giles" wrote in message
...
On 02/08/2020 18:54, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:27, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 11:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 09:55, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 07:31:35 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

But there are still free licences aren't there, over 75 and on
pension
credits, 1.5M of them?

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

Pension credits do, ...

What are "pension credits"?

... 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.

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be over the
state pension age. Which is some what variable dependant on your sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans to
push it even higher.


If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was
certainly over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for someone
who was that age.

You're thinking of the automatic NI credits that males over aged 60 get
if they are not paying any NI, for any reason.

These are convenient for someone who was contracted out for many years
but not working after 60. The 5 years of NI credits cancel out 5 years
of contracting out deductions so you get a slightly better state
pension.


Now I am not. I was referring to Pension Credit as it was a few years
back - and could definitely be claimed by someone over sixty.

But not a bloke !!.

Yes, definitely. I helped a male relative claim it in 2008 - he was 62

so not a "few" years then

Googleing has turn up the snipped that bus pass eligibly at 60 stopped in
2010

presumably rules for this benefit changed at the same time


at the time. He was awarded the Pension Credit guaranteed credit. It was a
top-up benefit - he had some other income.

"Andrew" wrote in message
...


Hopefully Universal Credit and the flat state pension will do away
with documents like that.

the flat state pension will do nothing of the sort

because millions will not qualify for the full rate

"Andrew" wrote in message
...
On 02/08/2020 13:34, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 12:41, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 11:41:14 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be over
the
state pension age. Which is some what variable dependant on your
sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans
to
push it even higher.

If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was certainly
over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for someone who was
that age.

Presumably a woman. State pension age for men has been 65 for a very
long time. They shifted women from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2018.


No, it wasn't a woman. Pension Credit could be claimed by anyone over
sixty who met certain criteria. I accept that it's different now.

You don't have to claim NI credits (which is what you mean) if you are
male and over aged 60.
They are applied by DWP automatically.

Oh no they're not

On 02/08/2020 18:51, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 16:12, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 14:40:14 +0100, "tim..."
wrote:

snip

Where are they going to get a b/w TV that receives digital TV?

dunno

7,000 per year manage it

And how many get 'found out'?

The irony being if they live on their own and don't have any TV
watching visitors, *no one* would know if it was colour or b/w?

Cheers, T i m


Nearly all the alleged B&W TVs are in Northern Ireland. Odd that.
that is because the irish are all crooks....

On 02/08/2020 21:30, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 18:51:07 +0100, Andrew
wrote:

snip

The irony being if they live on their own and don't have any TV
watching visitors, *no one* would know if it was colour or b/w?


Nearly all the alleged B&W TVs are in Northern Ireland. Odd that.

Out of the range of the detector vans? ;-)

Cheers, T i m

no such thing as a detector van ....

On 02/08/2020 13:49, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 12:14:50 +0100, "tim..."
wrote:
snip

I think the biggest insult is what I remember being only a tiny
discount to 'viewers' (as that's the primary interface of 'TV'
(compared with radio)) who were registered blind?

OTOH

there shouldn't be any problem with the blind getting by with a B&W TV

Assuming you can get B&W TV's these days? I wonder if you could get a
colour TV 'locked down' making it B&W only in a way that would satisfy
the BBC (if tested)?

Cheers, T i m

black and white licences should have gone when tv went digital only......

On 03/08/2020 08:16, tim... wrote:


"Farmer Giles" wrote in message
...
On 02/08/2020 18:54, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 18:27, Andrew wrote:
On 02/08/2020 11:41, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 09:55, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 07:31:35 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

But there are still free licences aren't there, over 75 and on
pension
credits, 1.5M of them?

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

Pension credits do, ...

What are "pension credits"?

... 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.

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be over
the
state pension age. Which isÂ* some what variable dependant on your
sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans to
push it even higher.


If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was
certainly over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for
someone who was that age.

You're thinking of the automatic NI credits that males over aged 60
get
if they are not paying any NI, for any reason.

These are convenient for someone who was contracted out for many years
but not working after 60. The 5 years of NI credits cancel out 5 years
of contracting out deductions so you get a slightly better state
pension.


Now I am not. I was referring to Pension Credit as it was a few
years back - and could definitely be claimed by someone over sixty.

But not a bloke !!.

Yes, definitely. I helped a male relative claim it in 2008 - he was 62

so not a "few" years then

That's a moot point.


Googleing has turn up the snipped that bus pass eligibly at 60 stopped
in 2010

presumably rules for this benefit changed at the same time

I don't see why, but I'm not sure. Even if it did those under 65 would
have continued to get it.

In article ,
Jim GM4DHJ ... wrote:
On 02/08/2020 21:30, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 18:51:07 +0100, Andrew
wrote:

snip

The irony being if they live on their own and don't have any TV
watching visitors, *no one* would know if it was colour or b/w?


Nearly all the alleged B&W TVs are in Northern Ireland. Odd that.

Out of the range of the detector vans? ;-)

Cheers, T i m

no such thing as a detector van ....

there isn't these days. There were some in the past

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

On 03/08/2020 10:01, charles wrote:
In article ,
Jim GM4DHJ ... wrote:
On 02/08/2020 21:30, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 18:51:07 +0100, Andrew
wrote:

snip

The irony being if they live on their own and don't have any TV
watching visitors, *no one* would know if it was colour or b/w?


Nearly all the alleged B&W TVs are in Northern Ireland. Odd that.

Out of the range of the detector vans? ;-)

Cheers, T i m

no such thing as a detector van ....

there isn't these days. There were some in the past


Some that claimed to be, you mean. They were as fake as most BBC news.

On Mon, 3 Aug 2020 08:25:37 +0100, "Jim GM4DHJ ..."
wrote:

On 02/08/2020 21:30, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 18:51:07 +0100, Andrew
wrote:

snip

The irony being if they live on their own and don't have any TV
watching visitors, *no one* would know if it was colour or b/w?


Nearly all the alleged B&W TVs are in Northern Ireland. Odd that.

Out of the range of the detector vans? ;-)


no such thing as a detector van ....

Crazy Jim, some of us use little icons to indicate we are being funny,
lighthearted or saying something tongue-in-cheek, few of us (or those
who aren't actually crazy or are older than 10) actually type 'tee
hee'.

HTH

Cheers, T i m

In article ,
Farmer Giles wrote:
On 03/08/2020 10:01, charles wrote:
In article ,
Jim GM4DHJ ... wrote:
On 02/08/2020 21:30, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 18:51:07 +0100, Andrew
wrote:

snip

The irony being if they live on their own and don't have any TV
watching visitors, *no one* would know if it was colour or b/w?


Nearly all the alleged B&W TVs are in Northern Ireland. Odd that.

Out of the range of the detector vans? ;-)

Cheers, T i m

no such thing as a detector van ....

there isn't these days. There were some in the past


Some that claimed to be, you mean. They were as fake as most BBC news.

They were operated by the GPO. They existed, I've been inside one. I've
also seen the portable kit, developed later, which actually worked, too.

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

In article ,
T i m wrote:
On 1 Aug 2020 23:44:33 GMT, Bob Eager wrote:

On Sat, 01 Aug 2020 22:16:10 +0100, T i m wrote:

On Sat, 1 Aug 2020 18:03:26 +0100, Andrew
wrote:

Anyone had the letter from TV LIcensing yet ?.

BBC Moneybox says they will send out letters, so any emails,
texts or phone calls will be from scammers. Some folks will fall for a
scammer though.

But there are still free licences aren't there, over 75 and on pension
credits, 1.5M of them?

Of course, there may be unexpected consequences. Lots of eligible people,
who haven't doen it until now, deciding to apply for pension credit.

I think the real issue here is giving the licence free to some in the
first place. People were paying and were ok with that (few other
choices, good content, no advertising etc), just as all those who know
if they want to watch Netflix or Amazon Video now they have to pay for
it. The problem arises when you make it free to anyone and then decide
to take that away again.

I think the biggest insult is what I remember being only a tiny
discount to 'viewers' (as that's the primary interface of 'TV'
(compared with radio)) who were registered blind?

I appreciate the impact would vary depending on what was on ... and
how good the narration was, but still. ;-(


To me, the main issue is expecting the BBC to pay for a 'benefit' If this
is fair, perhaps the energy companies should pay the winter fuel
allowance? Or supermarkets providing free food to poor pensioners? But
then given how much many of them contribute to Tory party funds, unlikely.

So just standard Trump thinking. Anyone who criticises in any way should
be penalised in any way possible.

--
*Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Mon, 3 Aug 2020 05:43:45 +0100, Farmer Giles
wrote:

snip

Yes, just did (thanks, both ways round), Bzzzzzzz. ;-(


I looked it up, and it seems that the rules changed (again) last year.

Thanks.

Now both partners have to be over pensionable age in order to claim.

Yeah, that seemed to be what it was suggesting.

If
your current status was the same prior to the 15th May last year, then
you could try making a retrospective claim - although you're probably
out of time for that.

It's been the same for a good while now.

Again, it 'used' to be the case that once you were awarded Pension
Credit you got it for five years even if your circumstances changed, so
had you have claimed it last year you would still get it now.

OK.

Cheers, T i m

On 03/08/2020 10:38, charles wrote:
In article ,
Farmer Giles wrote:
On 03/08/2020 10:01, charles wrote:
In article ,
Jim GM4DHJ ... wrote:
On 02/08/2020 21:30, T i m wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 18:51:07 +0100, Andrew
wrote:

snip

The irony being if they live on their own and don't have any TV
watching visitors, *no one* would know if it was colour or b/w?


Nearly all the alleged B&W TVs are in Northern Ireland. Odd that.

Out of the range of the detector vans? ;-)

Cheers, T i m

no such thing as a detector van ....

there isn't these days. There were some in the past


Some that claimed to be, you mean. They were as fake as most BBC news.

They were operated by the GPO. They existed, I've been inside one. I've
also seen the portable kit, developed later, which actually worked, too.


Worked in what sense? The only possible thing that could be detected
would be the local oscillator in the tuner mixer. This 'beats' with the
incoming RF signal and produces the IF (intermediate frequency). This
wouldn't tell anyone if or what you were watching even if it was strong
enough to be detected from a distance, which is unlikely.

On 03/08/2020 10:02, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 03/08/2020 10:38, charles wrote:

[detector vans] were operated by the GPO.
They existed, I've been inside one.
I've also seen the portable kit, developed later, which actually worked, too.

Worked in what sense? The only possible thing that could be detected
would be the local oscillator in the tuner mixer. This 'beats' with the
incoming RF signal and produces the IF (intermediate frequency). This
wouldn't tell anyone if or what you were watching even if it was strong
enough to be detected from a distance, which is unlikely.

For a CRT TV or computer screen, the signal modulating the grid of the
tube was fortuitously radiated over a wide range of frequencies, This
could be picked up, usually at VHF, and used to modulate one's own CRT,
letting you see on your screen exactly what was on the target's screen.

--
Spike

On Mon, 3 Aug 2020 08:09:34 +0100, "tim..."
wrote:

snip

But if "living with" means not married to,

Nope, we are married (her idea and she paid for the certificate,
surprisingly). ;-)

Oh, OK.

;-)

I wonder why you were so coy about it :-)

I didn't realise I was?

then your partner's pension needs
will be assessed on a single person basis

Which is how I think it is now.

(though perversely probably take
into account your contributions to family costs)

Which are nil. When I was working I was on a reasonable wage so was
able to pay for this modest 3 bed cottage (and have no other loans or
debts) when I was 40.

I'm surprised that if you have no savings,

We do, just not millions ...

and no job

Not for a while, no (my choice) ...

you don't sign on for "unemployment" benefits

Because I'm not looking for employment?

And, making the same assumption as before, that this income is enough for
the two of you to live on,

You cut your cloth ... ;-)

But two people living on 7 grand a year

It's not quite as bad as that but as I said, if you don't have any
debts, don't have an expensive lifestyle, do lots of things yourself
and cut your cloth ...

must be tough

I wouldn't say so. Do we have to be a bit careful? Yes. Do we still do
most of what we want? Yes?

We haven't been on holiday for about 10 years, not because we couldn't
afford to but just that we haven't. Being 'retired' is a bit like a
holiday (or should be g) and so we tend to do fun things all year
round. ;-)


I can't see how the numbers will swing towards
you being entitled to anything.

Well, I never assumed they would, like I said, we have never claimed
for anything, just got those things that most qualifying got (like
winter fuel allowance).

being married changes things

So it seems and for me, very much for the better. ;-)

No, let me expand on that. Being with my current partner is all I
consider, not the 'marriage' bit. I was married before (7 years), her
Mum died and she changed, I didn't like what she had become, we agreed
to go separate ways (and remained friends). We both promised 'till
death we do part' but lied.

When I had been with my current partner a couple of years and me being
a toy boy, we decided that if we were to have a child, we needed to
have all the rules and regs set out legally and a solicitor we
approached to set such up, came back after a couple of days and said
the 'easiest way to cover all that is to get married'. So we did, in
our lunch hour at work.

We lost the first child (miscarriage) but the next survived and is now
nearly 30. ;-)

And being 'retired' has give me / us the opportunity to be there for
her, my stepdaughter (wife's daughter, before she died of Cancer last
year) and my Mum (since Dad died 10 years ago).

To me / us, being able to do that and enjoy ourselves while we can ...
and have no real stress (roof over our head) is worth not being
'rich'. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

On 03/08/2020 08:19, tim... wrote:


"Andrew" wrote in message
...
On 02/08/2020 13:34, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 02/08/2020 12:41, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 11:41:14 +0100, Farmer Giles wrote:

The first eligibilty requirement for pension credit is to be over
the
state pension age. Which isÂ* some what variable dependant on your
sex
and date of birth as they gradually push it up to 68. With plans
to
push it even higher.

If that's the case, it's changed fairly recently then. It was
certainly
over sixty a few years back because I claimed it for someone who was
that age.

Presumably a woman. State pension age for men has been 65 for a very
long time. They shifted women from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2018.


No, it wasn't a woman. Pension Credit could be claimed by anyone over
sixty who met certain criteria. I accept that it's different now.

You don't have to claim NI credits (which is what you mean) if you are
male and over aged 60.
They are applied by DWP automatically.

Oh no they're not



They were to me. Clearly shown on NI dashboard website and on
my BR19 pensions forecasts.

On 03/08/2020 08:18, tim... wrote:


"Andrew" wrote in message
...


Hopefully Universal Credit and the flat state pension will do away
with documents like that.

the flat state pension will do nothing of the sort

because millions will not qualify for the full rate



Those people were contracted out, as I was for most of the time.
They get the same as someone who was not contracted out but
because they paid reduced NI and get a far better occupational
pension (and some!!), there is a contracted-out deduction from their
state pension. This has always been the case, and is nothing to do
with the Apr 2016-on arrangements.