Pension credit home visit

[charlieboy1]

My mum receives pension credit as a single person, however earlier this year we advised the Pension service of a change in her circumstances. Over the past few years she has shared her house with a man who was a close friend of the family,they were not a couple and he did not contribute to the rent so was classed as a non-dependant, he basically helped out with the cost of shopping etc. and he was company for her (he was in full time employment but due to personal issues was not able to contribute to the running of the home) . Over the past 2-3 years both of them have had serious illnesses (cancer, heart condition) and have been dependant on each other for care &c., this has brought them closer and they have now decided that they would like to live as a couple. we advised the pension service of this change and they now want to make a home visit to clear things up...is this normal.....my mum is worried that she has done something wrong...any advice would be appreciated...many thanks

Edited November 11, 2010 by charlieboy1

[honeybee13]

Hello and welcome to CAG. This is probably nothing to worry about, as a read around the forum will show you, but I don't remember a home visit happening for pension credit.

 

I expect one or more of our gurus will be along this evening, so please bear with us and you should get your answer. In the meantime, it's not worth worrying.

 

My best, HB

[charlieboy1]

thanks so far....from what the person from the pension service today (they didnt really say much) I think they were querying when he had moved in, or had they had a reconciliation &c, dont think they understood that he had been there anyway but that they had decided to live as a couple only earlier this summer.

my mum is so confused, she didnt even know she was getting pension credit till she phoned and asked them for a breakdown of what she received...I just hope she hasnt been receiving money from them that she shouldnt

[ErikaPNP]

It's perfectly normal in this situation. The purpose of the visit is for them to establish how long their relationship has been a "partnership" and to perform a check of their benefit entitlement with the change of circumstances; now they are a couple, the amount they can claim may increase or decrease, depending on their pooled income and capital.

 

Your mother declared him living there from the start so she hasn't done anything wrong, she's been completely upfront about the matter from the beginning, long before they decided they wanted to be a couple.

[charlieboy1]

Hi thanks.....I know she advised the Council when he moved in because of Council Tax etc but I dont know if she told the Pension Service, I dont know if she realised that she should and due her her health she cant remember. we only realised we had to tell the pension service when we asked the council tax office if we had to tell anyone else and they mentioned the pension service

Edited November 11, 2010 by charlieboy1