The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed that more than 10,000 older people applied for Pension Credit during the week of June 13, an increase of 275% when compared to the same week in 2021. The surge in claims is down to a national awareness campaign urging pensioners to check if they were eligible for the ‘passport’ benefit worth more than £3,300 each year in financial support and other discounts.
The Pension Credit Day of Action on June 15 was supported by financial guru Martin Lewis and former Strictly Come Dancing head judge, Len Goodman, who teamed up with Minister for Pensions Guy Opperman on the dancefloor to help spread the message. The pair’s social media video encouraging Pension Credit claims has now been viewed over 1.3 million times.
The boost in awareness could mean even more pensioners accessing crucial financial support during the cost of living crisis.
