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STBA for pension credit
Hi,
Does anyone have experience of trying to get a short term benefit advance for a client who has made a pension credit claim? Someone here has done it but it was not a straightforward process and they got mixed information from the pension service.
Going to be giving a training course specifically for people working with older clients and want to be ready if this question is raised!
Any feedback welcome…
Hi,
Does anyone have experience of trying to get a short term benefit advance for a client who has made a pension credit claim? Someone here has done it but it was not a straightforward process and they got mixed information from the pension service.
Going to be giving a training course specifically for people working with older clients and want to be ready if this question is raised!
Any feedback welcome…
Extract from an email that did the rounds here a little while ago.
DWP does not intend to advertise the availability of STBAs to the public. They will be only offered to a claimant if they indicate to the member of staff taking their claim that they cannot manage financially. The availability of a STBA will not be immediately obvious to those claiming on line.
STBAs are subject to three criteria:
?There is an underlying benefit entitlement or reasonable expectation that there is entitlement to benefit;
?The claimant can afford to repay - other debt and loan repayments will be taken into account;
?There is financial need - there is serious risk to the health and safety of a family member.
Decisions on STBAs will not be subject to review or appeal. Those who do not qualify will be ‘sign-posted’ by staff to their Local Authority’s Local Welfare Provision. The nature of this provision will vary from local authority to local authority and in many cases may not be in the form of a cash payment
I have not had any involvement with this so far but from what I have heard it is an uphill struggle.