Pension Credit - proposed children element

I have a client who is over pension age and raising her grandchild.  She is not eligible for PC because her capital is too high.  However, she is currently in receipt of CTC.

I know that when CTC is replaced by UC, Pension Credit will be changed to include an additional element for children.

Will people in my client’s situation lose out because they do not meet the criteria for PC?  Will there be transitional protection for this group?

It will depend upon her capital amount.

At the moment there is no capital cut-off for PC but one is arriving (probably at £32,000).

That means that she currently fails because of the level of tariff income her capital produces.  When children get added to GPC her needs figure will increase and, if her capital is below the cut-off (assumimg the new rules are in force) then she may qualify for some amount of PC.