The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced new plans to keep encouraging more than 11 million pensioners to check if they qualify for an annual income boost of £3,500.
By claiming Pension Credit, older people can be boosted financially by thousands, reports the Daily Record. The DWP will begin writing to older households across the UK as part of the annual uprating of State Pension - to advise people about the new payment rates.
DWP Minister Laura Trott MP said in December that the leaflet within this letter has been updated to promote Pension Credit, and will include messaging from last year’s campaign to encourage people to claim it. Pension Credit can act as a stepping stone to get additional help with housing, heating and Council Tax.
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The minister noted that an extra £1.8 million has been approved for marketing activity until the end of this financial year, on April 5. The DWP has also reassigned the full time equivalent of 100 staff and recruited 85 temporary staff members to process the increased level of claims, following a successful campaign in 2022.
Ms Trott said: “In the new year, DWP will again write to over 11 million pensioners as part of the annual uprating of State Pension. The accompanying leaflet has been updated to include this year’s campaign messaging promoting Pension Credit.
"Further spend of £1.8m has been approved for marketing activity until the end of this financial year.”
A new claim for Pension Credit which later turns out to be successful will also qualify for the £900 means-tested cost of living payment and the £300 pensioner cost of living payment in 2023/24.
During his Autumn Statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that Pension Credit will increase by 10.1 per cent from April. This will be on top of a 10.1 per cent increase to State Pension, disability and means-tested benefits that are delivered by the DWP.
Pension Credit weekly payment rates 2023/24
- Single: £201.05, up £18.45 from £182.60
- Couple: £306.85, up £28.15 from £278.70
People can check their eligibility for Pension Credit using the online calculator or by calling the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234.
So, how do you claim Pension Credit? Read on below to find out more.
What is Pension Credit?
Pension Credit is a benefit that gives older people extra money to help with living costs, if they are over the State Pension age and are on a low income.
There are many benefits to Pension Credit, including:
- 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
In May 2019, the law changed so that a ‘mixed age couple’ - a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it - are considered to be a ‘working age’ couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits.
This now means that neither of them can claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before the law changes, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age.
How to make a claim
An application for Pension Credit can be made 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 ever payment, so long as you were eligible during those three months. 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’re backdating your claim, you’ll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start.
To apply, you can do so through the DWP website. 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 on 0800 99 1234.
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