Confusion surrounds the department for work and pensions application of the pension credit. The credit is designed to stop once an individual completes an assessed income period, which runs for 5 years, but is stopped sooner if the person ceases to be treated as a member of a couple - for example, if a husband or wife dies or goes permanently into a care home, or is in hospital for more than a year.
Nursing Home Fees Agency believe that when pensioners, on the advice of advisers, inform the Department of Work and Pensions of changes in their circumstances, they are told that it is not necessary to tell them about changes in their capital during the assessed income period, with the result that they continue to receive almost £80 per week unlawfully. They believe there is a danger that the Department of Work and Pensions will correct mistakes made by them, by taking back money handed out in error, leaving pensioners to face repayments that they cannot afford.
Our view
Means tested benefits are here to stay. Learn more about State Pensions and the Pensions Credit in the State Pensions Centre.
Learn more about care in older age in our site Care Fees Adviser.com .