Thousands of people in the UK may be missing out on additional financial help from the government that they are entitled to.
Anyone who is eligible to claim Pension Credit can also get an array of extra, including support with heating bills, council tax and other living costs.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a reminder this week for people to submit a claim for the benefit before December 10, as this will allow them to get an extra £300 cost of living boost this winter. The last chance to get the extra cash is now less than two weeks away, so you don’t have long to make a claim if you’re eligible.
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To qualify for Pension Credit, you need to be over state Pension age – which is currently 66 for men and women – be on a low income, and live in England, Wales or Scotland. If you meet this criteria you’ll get a weekly top up of £201.05 from the DWP if you’re single, or up to £306.85 if you have a partner.
And these amounts are set to rise from April next year as confirmed by the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement, with the new rates set at £218.15 for those who are single and £332.95 for couples.
Pension Credit is worth an average of £3,900 per year in total but it also opens the door to a wealth of other support. The DWP said: “With Pension Credit you could get additional financial help, plus other support including a free TV licence.”
So what other financial help can you get? Well, support with heating costs, Council Tax discount and cost of living payments are just a few of the additional perks you can claim.
You’ll also get some NHS costs covered for you, including prescriptions, dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments, as well as a free TV licence and Housing Benefit.
If you get the benefit you’ll also automatically get cold weather payments from the DWP, which are paid if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days. You’ll get £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between November 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024.
Listed are all the additional benefits you are entitled to if you get Pension Credit:
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Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
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Cost of Living Payments
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Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
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a Council Tax discount
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a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over
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help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments, if you get a certain type of Pension Credit
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help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme
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a discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you’re moving house
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Cold weather payments
The DWP said almost 1.4 million pensioners currently receive Pension Credit but there are still many who are missing out. You can check your eligibility on the government website and if you apply by December 10, 2023 you can still receive a £300 cost of living payment as successful Pension Credit claims can be backdated for up to three months, providing you were eligible to receive it during that time.
You can make a claim by phone on 0800 99 1234, post or online , and use the Pension Credit calculator to see what support you can get.
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