The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently announced that following the success of its summer 2022 campaign to increase take-up of a benefit designed to boost the income of older people on a low income, the Pension Service has received an “unprecedented” number of new claims for Pension Credit. The latest figures from DWP show that during the week commencing December 12, 2022, it received over 7,200 claims for Pension Credit - an increase of 177 per cent on the same period in 2021.
The DWP also said that additional resources are being deployed to ensure claims for the ‘passport’ benefit - worth up to £3,500 a year on average in financial support and discounts - are being dealt with as quickly as possible.
The means-tested benefit is wroth up to £182.60 each week for people of State Pension age living on their own and up to £278.70 if they are part of a couple. If you are a carer or disabled, you may qualify for higher payments.
