Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Minister, Laura Trott MP, is calling on older people across the country to check if they are entitled to Pension Credit as soon as possible to ensure they stand the best chance of qualifying for an extra £324 cost of living payment.
Checking eligibility and applying by December 18 - just over a week away - will mean people of State Pension age could receive the £324 income boost thanks to Pension Credit backdating rules. This is because successful Pension Credit claims can be backdated for up to three months - as long as the applicant was also eligible to receive it during that time.
The average Pension Credit award is worth over £3,500 a year and even a small Pension Credit award can provide access to a wide range of other benefits - such as help with housing costs, Council Tax or heating bills - in addition to the extra cost of living payments.
