7. What about the money I already have?
Your supplementary pension is paid on top of any other money you may have. So it is affected by the other money you get, like retirement or widows' pension. But in working out how much supplementary pension you may get the local office will not count in:
the first £4 of what is left of your net weekly earnings from any part-time work after taking away your fares to work and any other necessary expenses. They will not count in the first £4 of your wife's earnings.
the first £1 a week of an occupational pension.
the first £4 a week of the total of any other money you get, such as a disablement pension or payment from a charitable fund. But if you have an occupational pension and any other money, then no more than £4 altogether.
the full amount of any attendance allowance.
8. What happens if I have savings?
It depends on how much you have. If your savings are less than £1,250 they will make no difference to your supplementary pension. If they are too high for you to get a supplementary pension you may be able to get one later when you have used some for living expenses. But you cannot deliberately give away savings to get a supplementary pension. If your savings are £1,250 or more your supplementary pension will be reduced as follows:
Your savings
less than £1,250
£1,250 but less than £1,300
The weekly reduction no reduction reduction of 25p
£1,300 but less than £1,350
£1,350 but less than £1,400
£1,400 but less than £1,450
reduction of 50p
reduction of 75p
reduction of £1
And so on--for every £50 of savings there is a reduction of 25p.
This scale is used instead of the actual income from your savings. Savings include money in a savings bank, building society, the Co-op, National Savings Certificates, Premium Bonds, shares or other investments and any other property you may own apart from your own home.
9. How is my supplementary pension paid?
You will usually get a book of orders-you cash one order each week at the post office you have chosen. Sometimes a payment may be made by Giro- cheque. If you get a retirement pension as well you will probably be given one book for both benefits.
10. Can I get help with bigger items I cannot
pay for from my pension?
Yes. Lump sum payments can be made to meet exceptional needs. The fixed amounts (see paragraph 3) are expected to cover the repair and replacement of clothing and footwear but not bedding, furniture and household equipment. If for example your sheets are worn out and you need to buy new ones you should let your social security office know. But help will not be given if you could buy the things you need from your savings and still be left with £200. 3