The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) unveiled a new campaign last week urging people who have reached the State Pension age to check if they are eligible to receive Pension Credit.
Pension Credit is a benefit intended to add to the income of older people, and could see claimants given over £3,300 a year.
As reported by the Daily Record, people can receive the benefit even if they already claim the State Pension or a private pension, or have an additional source of income.
READ MORE — Edinburgh Airport reveals security tips to help passengers avoid delays
Many retirees believe that, since they have savings or other income, they are not able to receive Pension Credit, but according to the DWP thousands are missing out on the money and discounts it offers each month.
Over 1.4 million people who are over the State Pension age in the UK currently receive the benefit — including more than 131,000 in Scotland — and have access to additional financial aid through Council Tax, Housing Benefit, hearing bills and a free TV Licence.
But many others are not claiming the benefit and therefore not receiving the help they are entitled to — which could offer much-needed support amid the cost of living crisis.
A quick way to determine your eligibility, as well as how much you could expect to receive through the benefit, is to check the Pension Credit calculator on the GOV.UK website.
How to use the Pension Credit calculator
To be able to use the Pension Credit calculator, you will need details of you and your partner's (if you have one):
- earnings, benefits and pensions
- savings and investments
When using the calculator, you will be given a number of multiple choice questions
You will need to enter the following details:
- 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
Once you have submitted all of the questions, you will have the opportunity to check over all of your answers and make any changes.
The tool will then tell you how much you can expect to receive per week.
After this, you will need to follow the link that is provided to the application page, where you will be able to see exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support.
In addition, you will have the option to print off the answers you gave, which may help you complete the application form more quickly as you will not need to look up all of the information again.
Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or family member to make sure you’re receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim.
Who cannot use the Pension Credit calculator?
You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner:
- Are deferring your State Pension
- Own more than one property
- Are self-employed
- Have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit
How to claim Pension Credit
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
If you are backdating your claim, you’ll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start.
Apply online
You can use the online service if:
you have already claimed your State Pension
there are no children or young people included in your claim
To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline directly on 0800 99 1234 or visit the GOV.UK website here to find out how much you could get.
