Last year, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed that “additional resources” have been brought in to help process new claims for Pension Credit which had reached “an all time high” following the success of an ongoing campaign to drive take-up of the benefit designed for people of State Pension age on a low income.
Earlier this week, Pensions Minister Laura Trott MP, shared that the average time to process new claims for the ‘passport’ benefit, which is worth up to £3,500 a year in financial support and discounts, is 34.1 days. This means people submitting applications this week or next, could receive their first payment - and any backdated arrears - by early July.
New claims can be backdated by up to three months from the point of application and paid accordingly, to ensure those who are entitled do not miss out.
In a written response to Labour MP Harriet Harman, who had asked what the average time taken is for pensioners to receive an outcome of their application, Ms Trott said: “The Average Actual Clearance Time as at April 2023 for a new claim to Pension Credit is 34.1 days.”
The DWP also recently announced that another Pension Credit ‘week of action’ will take place between June 12 and 16. This follows on from the success of a similar drive to increase take-up and awareness of the benefit, which ran last summer and was supported by celebrities including Martin Lewis and the late Len Goodman.
Pension Credit currently gives 127,060 people across Scotland extra money to help with living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income. Some older people think because they have savings or own their home they would not be eligible for the ‘gateway’ benefit which can also provide access to help with housing costs, heating bills and Council Tax.
Older people - or friends and family - can check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK here. Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 - lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Below is everything you need to know about the benefit to make a claim for yourself, a family member or friend.
Who should check for Pension Credit eligibility
If you are over 65 and reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, you could still qualify for Pension Credit if your weekly income is less than:
- £240.90 if you are single
- £351.45 if you are a couple
Other help if you get Pension Credit
If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:
- Cost of living payments - the deadline for the £301 payments has passed, but you could still get £300 and £299
- 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
Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit
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 means they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before this DWP change, 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 use the Pension Credit calculator
To use the calculator on GOV.UK, you will need details of:
earnings, benefits and pensions
savings and investments
You’ll need the same details for your partner if you have one.
You will be presented by a series of questions with multiple choice answer options.
This includes:
- Your date of birth
- Your residential status
- Where in the UK you live
- Whether you are registered blind
- Which benefits you currently receive
- How much you receive each week for any benefits you get
- Whether someone is paid Carer’s Allowance to look after you
- How much you get each week from pensions - State Pension, private and work pensions
- Any employment earnings
- Any savings, investments or bonds you have
Once you have answered these questions, a summary screen shows your responses, allowing you to go back and change any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then displays how much benefit you could receive each week.
All you have to do then is follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support.
There’s also an option to print off the answers you give using the calculator tool to help you complete the application form quicker without having to look out the same details again. Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or family member to make sure you’re receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim.
Who cannot use the Pension Credit calculator?
You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner:
are deferring your State Pension
own more than one property
are self employed
have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit
How to make a claim
You can start your application 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 payment if you were eligible during that time.
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.
Apply online
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 or use the GOV.UK Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you could get.
To keep up to date with the latest State Pension news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, follow us on Twitter @Record_Money, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out Monday to Friday - sign up here.
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