State Pension

[uncletom6]

My friends state pension has been reduced by £200 per month. She has tried to phone DWP but no answer just an automated 'if your pension has been reduced we will be in touch in due course). Can this be right?

[barry1010]

Has something happened to affect her entitlement to pension credit?

[Hopkirk]

Perhaps ask the Citizens Advice Bureau for help.

[barry1010]

Has she tried this phone number?
0800 731 0469

[uncletom6]

There's been no changes. She started to get the pension April this year.

[goodgoalie]

Sounds like they reckon she has become ineligible for the Pension Credit top-up

[uncletom6]

Why would she become ineligible? Paid full NI for 43 years?

[uncletom6]

She was getting about £673 and now its now £447 pm so not even the basic rate.

[barry1010]

Has she tried that number I posted? It is pointless us guessing as to what has happened

[bobbinwales]

Does she have other income as maybe some tax is taken off?
Has she definitely had no letter?
Was they getting just basic pension with no top ups?

[burlyshirley]

Please let us know if you find out uncletom - quite worrying really.

[dannyk13]

Bobbi//Does she have other income as maybe some tax is taken off?//
If she had the tax would be taken from the other income.

[Redhelen72]

Is it possible she has received more than she is entitled to and they have reduced it? the basic rate I think is 137.60.
the only real way to know is to contact the pension helpline

[bobbinwales]

Agreed danny that's normally how it's done but maybe other income stopped but still some tax is due altho I think hmrc would ask for repaint not take it from pension.
Seems odd and poor that she got no letter though maybe she overlooked it

[ubasses]

Under the new post 2016 pensions, if you have been 'contracted out' by your employer at any time. (you would have paid less NI) the full pension will be reduced. If this is the case they may have not only reduced it, but clawed back the last few months overpayments.
The starting rate for the new pension is £179.60.

[uncletom6]

Thanks for the answers. 0800 731 0469 is the number she keeps trying. Never been contracted out. She does have a private NHS pension, thats the only 'other' income. No letter of warning, she was just checking her bank and noticed the reduced payment. Just basic DWP pension with no top up.

[dannyk13]

Ubasses 'contracted out'
// Paid full NI for 43 years?//

[ubasses]

The NHS is listed as contracted out, along other publics sector workers. Contracted out means only paying basic NI. No contributions were made into SSP (second state pension) previousy known as SERPs
(state earnings related pension)

[dannyk13]

Ubasses, I thought that contracting out was voluntary? At least it was in my case in the police force.

[uncletom6]

ubasses, could that be the reason then?

[uncletom6]

She was getting £179 per week , its now looking at £111 per week