The ElderlyThe ElderlyHow the UK and Scottish How the UK and Scottish Governments meet their Governments meet their

financial needsfinancial needs

1. State Pension1. State Pension

This is paid to entitled men at This is paid to entitled men at 6565, and to , and to women between women between 6060 and and 6565..

The State Pension age for women will The State Pension age for women will increase gradually from 60 in increase gradually from 60 in 20102010 to 66 to 66 in in 20202020. The age will be the same for men . The age will be the same for men and women.and women.

1. State Pension1. State Pension

A man will have to have worked for A man will have to have worked for 4444 years and a woman years and a woman 3939 years to claim the years to claim the full state pension if they reach retirement full state pension if they reach retirement age age before before 20102010..

In the In the 2007 Pensions Act2007 Pensions Act, this was reduced , this was reduced to just to just 30 30 years for both men and women, years for both men and women, who retire who retire on or afteron or after 20102010..

1. State Pension 2010-111. State Pension 2010-11

Over 80s receive an extra 25p a week.

2. Income Support2. Income Support

This can be paid to pensioners on a This can be paid to pensioners on a low income, who live in low income, who live in residential residential carecare..

It is It is means-testedmeans-tested – based on your – based on your income and circumstances.income and circumstances.

Pensioners with savings over Pensioners with savings over £16,000 will not qualify.£16,000 will not qualify.

3. Pension Credit3. Pension Credit

Pension Credit can be made up ofPension Credit can be made up of the the Guarantee CreditGuarantee Credit and the and the Savings CreditSavings Credit. Both are means-. Both are means-tested.tested.

The The Guarantee CreditGuarantee Credit is extra money is extra money available to over 60s whose weekly available to over 60s whose weekly income is less than £132.60 (single) income is less than £132.60 (single) or £202.40 (couple).or £202.40 (couple).

Pensioners with extra responsibilities Pensioners with extra responsibilities may qualify for more.may qualify for more.

3. Pension Credit3. Pension Credit

The The Savings CreditSavings Credit rewards people rewards people with a modest income or savings. It with a modest income or savings. It is extra money available to over 65s is extra money available to over 65s whose income is up to whose income is up to £184£184 a week a week (single person). The maximum (single person). The maximum payment is payment is £20.52£20.52 a week. a week.

The figure ia The figure ia £270£270 a week for a week for couples. The maximum payment is couples. The maximum payment is £27.09£27.09 a week. a week.

An ExampleAn Example Christine Smith has a Christine Smith has a state state

pensionpension of of £97.65£97.65 a week and a week and an an occupational pensionoccupational pension of of £10£10 a week.a week.

To bring her pension income of To bring her pension income of £107.65£107.65 up to up to £132.60£132.60, she will , she will receive receive £24.95£24.95 guarantee creditguarantee credit..

She will also receive She will also receive £6.00£6.00 savings creditsavings credit (60p for every £1 (60p for every £1 of the £10 pension income over of the £10 pension income over £87.30), making her total £87.30), making her total income income £138.60£138.60..

New Government ProposalsNew Government Proposals

The new Coalition Government is The new Coalition Government is considering scrapping the Pension considering scrapping the Pension Credit and paying out a flat-rate Credit and paying out a flat-rate pension of pension of £140£140 to every pensioner to every pensioner in the country. in the country.

This would benefit women, in This would benefit women, in particular, who have not worked long particular, who have not worked long enough to qualify for a full state enough to qualify for a full state pension.pension.

4. Winter Fuel Payments4. Winter Fuel Payments

A A Winter Fuel PaymentWinter Fuel Payment is an annual is an annual payment to help people aged 60 and payment to help people aged 60 and over with the costs of keeping warm over with the costs of keeping warm in winter.in winter.

Single people or couples may qualify Single people or couples may qualify for for £250£250..

People over 80 can get an extra People over 80 can get an extra payment of payment of £150.£150.

5. Cold Weather Payments5. Cold Weather Payments

Pensioners on benefits can qualify for extra assistance to help with heating costs when there is a spell of cold weather in their area.

Cold weather means the average temperature at a specified weather station which is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below over 7 consecutive days.

5. Cold Weather Payments5. Cold Weather Payments

0°C

6. Attendance Allowance6. Attendance Allowance

This This is a tax-free is a tax-free benefit for people benefit for people aged 65 or over aged 65 or over who need help with who need help with personal care personal care because they are because they are physically or physically or mentally disabledmentally disabled. .

The amount you The amount you get depends on get depends on how much your how much your disability affects disability affects you.you.

The lower rate is The lower rate is £47.80£47.80 per week per week and the higher rate and the higher rate is is £71.40£71.40 a week. a week.

7. Christmas Bonus7. Christmas Bonus

The Christmas The Christmas Bonus is a tax-free Bonus is a tax-free payment paid to a payment paid to a pensioner if they pensioner if they are in receipt of are in receipt of one or more one or more qualifying benefits. qualifying benefits. The payment is The payment is made before made before Christmas.Christmas.

The current The current payment ispayment is

8. Free Television Licence8. Free Television Licence

Anyone Anyone aged 75 or aged 75 or over isover is entitled to entitled to benefit from a benefit from a free free television television licencelicence. The . The Government will Government will pay for the pay for the television licence if television licence if a person is aged 75 a person is aged 75 or over and has a or over and has a television. television.

This saves the This saves the personperson

£145.50£145.50

9. Free Bus Travel in Scotland9. Free Bus Travel in Scotland Anyone Anyone aged 60 or aged 60 or

over isover is entitled to entitled to benefit from benefit from free bus free bus travel throughout travel throughout ScotlandScotland. .

The Scottish The Scottish Government’s Government’s transport agency, transport agency, Transport ScotlandTransport Scotland, is , is in charge of the in charge of the scheme, introduced on scheme, introduced on April 1April 1stst, 2006, 2006..

This means older and This means older and disabled people can disabled people can now travel free on any now travel free on any local bus service, or local bus service, or scheduled long scheduled long distance coach distance coach service, anywhere in service, anywhere in Scotland even during Scotland even during the rush hour. the rush hour.

9. Free Bus Travel in Scotland9. Free Bus Travel in Scotland

A A Scottish Citizens' Scottish Citizens' National National Entitlement CardEntitlement Card is is needed to use the needed to use the scheme.scheme.

Each of Scotland’s Each of Scotland’s local councils have local councils have there own version there own version of the card.of the card.

Fife CouncilFife Council uses uses its its Myfife cardMyfife card to to provide free bus provide free bus travel.travel.