State Pension payments increased by 10.1 per cent last month for millions of older people across Great Britain, including more than 992,000 living in Scotland. However, despite a record-breaking rise in payments of the contributory benefit, it is estimated that over 1.8 million people over 65 have an income of less than £100 per week.
The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that 12.6 million people are now receiving State Pension payments. This includes 9.7 million people on the Basic State Pension, which is now worth up to £156.20 per week and 2.9million on the New State Pension, which is worth up to £203.85 per week.
Helen Morrissey, senior pensions and retirement analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown warns some single pensioners and married couples receiving the lowest State Pension payments could be missing out on Pension Credit, a benefit delivered by the DWP which is worth more than £3,500 each year on average.
