Pensioners have just ten days left to check their benefit entitlement and potentially qualify for the £324 cost of living payment.
The benefit in question is Pension Credit. If you are eligible for this, and you apply by December 18, then you will be entitled to the £324 cost of living payment.
This is because Pension Credit can be backdated by up to three months, as long as the applicant was also eligible to receive it during that time.
December 18 is the last day to backdate your Pension Credit and qualify for the £324 cost of living payment.
Pension Credit tops up your income to £182.60 per week for single people and to £278.70 for couples.
You might get extra help on top of this if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.
Have you had trouble claiming Pension Credit? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
On average, Pension Credit is worth over £3,500 a year - plus it unlocks other perks, such as free TV licences for over-75s and help with housing costs, council tax and heating bills.
Around 1.4 million pensioners in Britain receive Pension Credit but hundreds of thousands are missing out on this extra help.
How much is Pension Credit - and am I eligible?
You might be able to claim Pension Credit if you are over the state pension age, and you live in England, Scotland or Wales.
The state pension age is currently 66 for both men and women, but is expected to rise to 67 by 2028.
To qualify, you'll need to have a weekly income of less than £182.60 for single people or £278.70 for couples.
Pension Credit comes in two parts. You may be entitled to one or both elements, depending on your circumstances.
The Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to:
- £182.60 if you’re single
- £278.70 if you have a partner
If you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, or you have savings or a second pension, you may be eligible for the Savings Credit element of Pension Credit.
You could get up to:
- £14.48 if you're single
- £16.20 if you're a couple
You may get extra money if you have other responsibilities and costs, such as if you have high rent, if you have a disability or you care for someone.
As an example, you can get an extra £69.40 a week if you claim certain disability benefits or an extra £38.85 a week if you receive Carer's Allowance.
If you’re responsible for children or young people, you could get an extra £56.35 a week for each person in your care.
This is increased to £66.85 a week for the first child if they were born before April 6, 2017.
If the child or young person is disabled, you could also get an extra amount of £30.58 to £95.48 a week if they get certain benefits.
If you’re unsure about your entitlement for Pension Credit, use an online calculator to check your eligibility.
Some examples of free benefit calculators include:
You can apply for Pension Credit online on the Gov.uk website, by calling 0800 99 1234, or by printing out and filling in a paper application form.
You'll need to send the form to: The Pension Service 8, Post Handling Site B, Wolverhampton, WV99 1AN.
Contact Citizens Advice or Age UK if you need help with applying for Pension Credit.
Minister for Pensions Laura Trott said: “The run up to Christmas is always a busy time, but one thing to make sure that’s on your list over the coming days is to find out whether you or your loved ones could be eligible for Pension Credit.
“Pension Credit can make a real difference and I am determined to make sure this support – worth an average of £3,500 per year – is reaching everyone who needs it.”
Have you had trouble claiming Pension Credit? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
