Do both types of PC give acccess to the discretionary and non-discretionary parts of the socila fund, or is it just guarantee credit? The DWP site is less than helpful - for some types of payment it just refers to "pension credit", for others it does not mention PC at all.

Both types of PC do give access (see old discussion item thread: http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forum/caselaw/228.html)

But, just to keep pensioners on their toes, full help with health costs, help with water and sewerage charges in England ansd Scotland, and help with legal costs is restricted to recipients of guarantee credit! Many pensioners are not sure which they are getting - it is not stated in the award letter itself, only in the attached calculation sheet. We expect to see pensioners accused of fraud over health charges because they are not aware of the status of their pension credit award.

Whilst its true that both types of PC give access to the discretionary and non discretionary SF, I bet you 25 pence that the CCG/BL budgets have not been increased, so the net effect is only to increase competition for the payments. Also, the capital limits built into CCGs and BLs will mean in one door and and out another!

Steve

Actually the Social Fund budget was increased significantly last April and I recall a government press release congratulating themselves on this. But, of course the publicity failed to mention that there would be extra demand on the Social Fund because of Pension Credit, that the existing budget was far too small and remains so and that 2/3 of the funds are for loans which of course just make claimants poorer.

Ever thought that you were living in 1984land with its newspeak? Maybe we'll find out after the Hutton Report is published...

Neil,

Tell me the SF budget was increased in anticipation of the inclusion of Savings Credit as a passport, and the 25 pence is on it's way. I want to believe everything is beautiful... The DWP knows that its target audience for Savings Credit will primarily be those with capital over the SF capital limits (even though you can get it with no savings etc). You rightly mention the fondness for loan offers by the SF office. But reseach shows that older people are far less likely to go for loans in general! This is less a passporting concession, and more a paper tiger.

I wonder what Mr Pooter would say about all this?

Steve

Hi - bit off topic ....
not surprisingly local Pension Services are also confused about passporting and Pension Credit

Pension Credit (either guarantee or savings elements) is a passport to the £8.50 weekly Cold Weather Payment. We have heard of one local Pension Service (in Bradford) incorrectly advising clients that only people on Guarantee Credit are entitled.

These payments will be made automatically from the Pensions Centres so I suspect that no one would have actually lost out on their payment, but it's still worrying when officials don't know their own rules.

Alban

Can anyone out there point to any Savings Credit only client who has successfully applied for and been paid a community Care grant?

In addition can you advise if made, were the awards made by local officers or following a Social Fund Inspector review?

Colleague received an enquiry from a pensioner last week miffed because she didn't get a cold weather payment for the one week in January when the temperature was low enough. Discovered entitlement to PC and encouraged a claim. We assume that if PC is back dated to October 03 then claimant would then be entitled to a 'back dated' cold weather payment. We will follow up those we know about but should they be paid automatically? Local Pension Service are investigating.