My Mother in Law is 93.  She is in care and I am trying to sell her home to pay for the care.  She claims Pension Credit.  Searching through her Bank Statement I realized she had not received her Pension Credit for six weeks.  I telephoned the Pension Service to be told "quite sternly" that because she had not completed a form they had sent, they had suspended her payments.  To my knowledge no such form was ever received.  I cannot believe that the Pension Service can suspend payment on such a "whim".  No follow up letter requesting completion of the form in question "or else we will suspend payment" - no phone call - nothing - just stop payment...unbelievable.  Seemingly it is "their policy". I now have to await a duplicate form and, as with all forms sent to the Pensions Service, I will post it back Recorded Delivery.  I then have to try to get a refund of the money they have stopped.  She's 93 years old for God's sake - where would she be financially if I wasn't trying to keep an eye on her finances - as it is, she is losing her home and everything she has ever worked for. 

Callie

You should make a complaint about this and copy it to your mother's MP.  This is typical of the behaviour of the Pension Service, but it won't change unless people complain and make the politicians aware of what is going on.

Gerry

Thanks for that.  Will try and shorten my "essay" and pass on to her MP.  They may not be able to help her but, like you say, they should be aware of how things are.

When all the problems arose about changing Pension Books to Post Office Card accounts, I had a dreadful time trying to sort things out for my inlaws and sent a strong worded letter to the Pensions Service on their behalf, but didn't even get a reply - typical...

Cheers

 

I work with dissadvantaged individuals of various ages

I had a case where a gentleman in his later years had all his benifits stopped & when asked why, the poor person had no idea.

It took sveral weeks of very hard work to get the DSS to re-enstate his benifits & to get the back dated benifts paid.

The reason for having his benifits stopped was he was unable to read & write.

& hadn`t attended a medical that had been requested to attend (by mail)

Surely when this individual had been interviewed at some stage it would have been obvious to document on his notes / File that he was unable to read or write.

If it wasn`t for organisations that assist dissadvantaged individuals or other like minded organisations .

What would happen to these individuals & how many people like him & your mother, are out there not getting what they deserve out of the benifits system.

I have every sympathy with your case,

There are a organisations available in your area that will assist you in your battle.

Good look on your up Hill Journey.

As for having to sell your mothers House to pay for her care.

Everybody out there who is able.

Live your life to the fullest.

Spend spend spend.

They will only take it off you when the time comes.

No regrets!

madmax

 

 

I am now experiencing a similar problem since mid August 2007, when I moved house to be near my family. I am disabled with Mitocondrial Myopathy. They stopped my pension credit early October, when I asked why had they not contacted me, they said they had tried, but I had nothing, no letter, no phone no email. Apparently they do not use email for external matters !  They are using the excuse that where and how I live is the matter, but that is not a valid factor in eligibility for pension credit. Now they have stopped my Winter Fuel Allowance on the grounds that they have stopped my Pension Credit. As over 60, I am entitled to Winter Fuel payment, it has no link to Pension Credit.

I am now owed over £550, and all they will say is that it has been referred to another department for a decision. I think they are just trying to save money and hoping I will die so they don't have to pay. Well I've got news for them I don't intend to !