State Pension payments are set to increase by 10.1 per cent from April for around 12.6 million 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 pensioners are receiving less than £100 per week in State Pension payments.
Of the overall total, there are 9.7 million older people receiving Basic State Pension payments of up to £141.85 per week (rising to £156.20 in April), compared to 2.7 million getting the New State Pension, which is worth up to £185.15 each week (rising to £203.85 in April).
Helen Morrissey, senior pensions and retirement analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown warns at least some of those on the lowest State Pension payments could be missing out on Pension Credit, a benefit delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) which is worth more than £3,500 each year in financial support, discounts and other benefits which could increase their income.
