PEOPLE across Scotland have been urged not to miss out on up to £300 to help with their energy bills ahead of a key deadline.
Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the advice service advice.scot, is reminding households they have until Saturday, December 21 to apply for Pension Credit and, in turn, qualify for the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
Successful Pension Credit claims can be backdated for three months, provided the applicant was eligible during that period.
How can I find out more information?
You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached state pension age to qualify for Pension Credit.
More information on eligibility can be found HERE.
The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment – which replaces the Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland – provides £200 to qualifying households, increasing to £300 if someone in the household is aged 80 or over.
The Scottish Government’s website explains: “As a result of the UK Government’s decision to means test the Winter Fuel Payment, we have made the difficult decision to also means test Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
“Only people of State Pension age who get certain benefits will be eligible for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.”
More information on the key requirements can be found on the Scottish Government’s website HERE.
To be eligible for the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment this year, claimants must have been born before September 23, 1958 and be in receipt of Pension Credit or another means-tested benefit.
Claimants must also have received the relevant benefit during the “qualifying week,” which this year fell between September 16 and 22.
The Department for work and Pensions (DWP) is administering the payments this winter, with those eligible to expected to receive them automatically.
Anybody who has recently reached state pension age is encouraged to check their eligibility with DWP before December 21.
Submitting a claim by then could allow it to be backdated to the qualifying week in September to make them eligible for the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
What is Pension Credit?
Advice Direct Scotland is encouraging everyone to check their eligibility ahead of the deadline.
Pension Credit is a form of financial assistance that “tops up” the income of individuals above state pension age who fall below a minimum income threshold.
It can be worth up to £3500 per year, although recent figures suggest as many as 760,000 people could be missing out.
How can I get more advice?
Anyone who requires further guidance can contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060 or online via www.advice.scot.
Staff can provide free advice on the support available and ensure that households are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to.
