Pension credits agent?

[Vickyll2811]

Hello, I was just wandering if anyone knew why a pensioner can not appoint an agent to deal with their affairs regarding pension credit.

Apparently I can only act on my grandmothers behalf if I have a power of attorney in place, but I can act on my sisters behalf for working tax credits by simply filling in an agents authorisation form!

I find this a little strange because in this case and surely a lot more besides, it is my elderly grandmother that requires my help more than my sister, but luckily we are not yet in a position to have to go through the hassle and expense of getting a power of attorney. Why are they so unhelpful?

[dzug2]

Maybe from experience they know that the elderly are more vulnerable to unscrupulous relatives.

[Yorky Lass]

Get your grandmother to write a letter stating that she wishes you to act on her behalf and that she gives permission for The Pension Service to speak to you. Also if she wants your address to be her correspondence address she should state that too.
Your grandmother will have to sign any future forms etc, this does not give you the power to do that, but you will be able to raise queries with them.
I always advised customers to do this when I worked for DWP and there was never any problems.

[Vickyll2811]

Thanks Yorky Lass. I will try that and see what happens, but they have told me there is absolutely no way around it!

[Yorky Lass]

They must believe that you are wanting to act as though you were your grandmother and sign her forms. If so then you do need POA. They are wrong saying there is no way round it.

What I previously explained was a usual standard proceedure. Try it. You should definitely be able to be her correspondence address at least, so you will be able to read any letters she may receive.

If you still have problems ask them for the telephone number of your Local Pension Service and arrange a home visit for your grandmother and they will look into it for you. If your grandmother has any mental incapacity there is also an appointeeship that they could arrange too. You can not be an appointee however if it is just because she wants you to be. She has to be incapable of handling her own affairs.

Good luck. Be persistant.