The Government says there will be "no let-up" in promoting Pension Credit, which helps less struggling pensioners. And it says applications for the benefit are up 73% compared with last year.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says letters will be sent out to 11,000 older people to tell them about the April State Pension uprating and to “stress the point about Pension Credit”.
Mel Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, told MPs in the House of Commons that during one week in December alone, his Department received 7,200 claims for Pension Credit, an increase of 177 per cent on the previous year. He urged more older people to check if they are eligible for an annual income boost of £3,500, on average.
Mr Stride said: “Two-thirds of those we believe are eligible for Pension Credit receive it, but that means that one-third do not. We cannot identify them precisely in advance, which is why communication is so important."
The DWP has also launched a new TV advert to promote awareness of the benefit. This will run alongside its ongoing social media campaign encouraging friends and family members to check if anyone they know may be eligible.
Pension Credit is a "passport benefit" which can unlock extra help with daily living costs including council tax, housing costs and heating bills. The latest DWP figures indicate £1.7bn is being left unclaimed by around 800,000 older people across Great Britain who are missing out on Pension Credit.
What is Pension Credit?
Pension Credit currently gives 1.4 million people across the UK extra money to help with living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income. Some older people think because they have savings or own their home they would not be eligible for any Pension Credit, but the DWP said hundreds of thousands could be missing out on the extra money and discounts it provides every month.
Other help if you get Pension Credit
If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:
- Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
- Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
- Council Tax discount
- Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over
- Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments
- Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme
- A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house
How to use the Pension Credit calculator
To use the calculator on GOV.UK, you will need details of:
earnings, benefits and pensions
savings and investments
You’ll need the same details for your partner if you have one.
You will be presented by a series of questions with multiple choice answer options.
This includes:
- Your date of birth
- Your residential status
- Where in the UK you live
- Whether you are registered blind
- Which benefits you currently receive
- How much you receive each week for any benefits you get
- Whether someone is paid Carer’s Allowance to look after you
- How much you get each week from pensions - State Pension, private and work pensions
- Any employment earnings
- Any savings, investments or bonds you have
How to make a claim
You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can claim any time after you reach State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for three months.
This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.
You will need:
your National Insurance number
information about your income, savings and investments
your bank account details, if you’re applying by phone or by post
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