Pension credits recovery from estates

[david williams]

when did the threshold from £30,000 to £10,000 savings take effect for claiming pension credit. Does anybody know?

[Nell]

Re: Pension credits recovery from estates

David,

From 2nd November 2009, savings of £10,000 or under were disregarded for pension credit purposes. Savings of £10,000 and above attracted a deduction of £1 for each £250 or part thereof.

DWP have just hit me with a large bill for overpaid pension credit to my late mother - she died 2 and a half years ago. She also had Alzheimers and was completely unaware of her financial situation but as the holder of POA I am now held responsible for this debt despite the fact that I was not told of the old bank account (pass book account so no correspondence from the bank) containing the savings.

[wales01man]

Re: Pension credits recovery from estates

Who was the Excecutor of the estate and who inherited from it?

When the state was settled all monies and assets would have been found and debts paid any money owing to the DWP should have been paid after all they must have been told of the death and stopped payments

[des8]

Re: Pension credits recovery from estates

Hi and Welcome.
When your mother died, did you obtain a grant of probate?
If yes, did you not know about the bank assets at that time?
If the bank account came to light after settlement, did it involve IHT (probably not)?
How long ago did the account come to light and have you disbursed the monies?

Unfortunately the DWP can reclaim from the estate and if the estate has been distributed then the personal representatives (executors or administrators of the will) will be personally liable if they have distributed already.
I don't understand how they can claim from you on the basis you had PoA, unless you were also executor.

You will probably have to provide evidence of his savings at the time that she claimed, so copies of bank statements will be useful.

As your mother had Alzheimers, do you know when she started claiming?
If you can show the forms were not properly explained to her and she did not realise what had to be declared, or at the time she may have even forgotten about the account, or the money came from savings from her Pension Credit, you MAY get them to drop the claim.