non contributory pensions - back dating?

N

neddser

Guest
My parents are well in retirement age father 87 mother 71 - received poor advice years ago regarding their qualification for a non-contributory pension.

they were told by Citizens advice they would not qualify for a ncp(both currently receive English contributory pensions). They have recently been told that they do qualify and have applied to receive the non-contributory pension.

My question is will that be backdated - my father should have received this for the past 20 years and my mother for the past 10 years. they have no savings as their pensions were barely covering living costs.

I cant seem to get a straight answer and I really want to fight their cause because they deserve a better life than they have had the past number of years.
 
I'd be pretty sure that it's only payable from the date of application, Neddser, and I certainly couldn't see it being backdated for anything like ten or twenty years...

No harm in trying, though!...:D

Darth...
 
Here is the relevant paragraph from the Operational Guidelines on State Pension (non-contributory) regarding late claims. It can be found via www.welfare.ie

Late Claims
Please apply for pension on time i.e. three months before you reach age 66. If you are awarded pension, it will become payable from the Friday following your 66th birthday. However, if you apply for pension late, you may lose out on part of your entitlement. There is provision to backdate the award of pension for up to 6 months before the date on which the claim was made. However, you will have to have a valid reason for claiming late before any decision to back date the claim is considered.
It is also possible in certain exceptional circumstances to back date claims for periods in excess of 6 months as follows;
  • if the failure to claim on time arose as a result of incorrect information supplied by staff of the Department to you
  • where the delay arose due to you being incapacitated by illness or infirmity. However, an illness though disabling, which would not cause your mental faculties to diminish significantly, would not be accepted as sufficient reason for claim late.
  • your were the subject of a 'force majeure' i.e. your were subject to extreme events or actions which prevented you from claiming on time.
  • if you are experiencing financial hardship. However, you must have current debts, which cannot be discharged from current income or disposable assets.
In all cases where a back dated payment is being considered, entitlement to pension throughout that period must have been satisfactorily established.
If you feel that you may be entitled to a back dated payment under any of the provisions outlined above, please set out your case in writing to us and supply any supporting documentation. Please also quote your pension claim number in your correspondence
 
Thanks for the responses - I guess the fact they had to get a life loan out against their house would be reason enough to show hardship. They were in fact given the wrong advice and they have debts (lifeloan) that could not be paid back because they cannot sell their family home.

I will fight their cause, will probably end up with nothing, its seems to be like everything else in this country - you cannot get anything for being forthright and honest!
 
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