BRIAN Cox has joined a campaign urging pensioners to check if they are eligible for pension credits in order to secure the Winter Fuel Payment.
Labour cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment mean the benefit will no longer be universal and will now only apply to some pensioners. The benefit will now be means-tested, which means that it can only be claimed by pensioners claiming certain other benefits.
One of those is pension credits, and the deadline to apply is December 21.
Pension Credits are often forgotten about, as Independent Age estimates around 70,000 households in Scotland are entitled to pension credit but do not claim it.
Fran McSweeney, Independent Age's head of services, said it's "more important than ever" for pensioners to check if they are eligible.
She said: "Once you get pension credits, it opens the door to other entitlements such as help with rent and council tax. It’s like a golden key to live in a more manageable way.
“We strongly believe the UK Government could and should be doing more to raise awareness about pension credit. We speak to people on our helpline every day who are struggling.
“We really want to get the message that it’s not a handout, it’s something you’re entitled to. If you’re struggling to make ends meet we can help you.”
Cox has added his support to raise awareness of the campaign, adding:“In a compassionate and just society, no one should have to worry about not being able to turn the heating on.
“Currently, 150,000 pensioners in Scotland live in poverty. Yet we know that around 90,000 older people are missing out on pension credit they are entitled to in Scotland.
‘It has never been more important to ensure that everyone eligible for pension credit receives it.”
Katherine Crawford, chief executive of Age Scotland, said: “Sadly, we’re likely to start seeing the real-life impact of taking away the Winter Fuel Payment from so many low and modest income pensioners. We knew this winter would be exceptionally hard for hundreds of thousands of pensioners in Scotland, but it is alarming to think that the fallout from the move could start affecting older people so soon.
“Our greatest fear is that older people put their health – and lives – at risk by not keeping their homes warm and not eating hot food in a desperate attempt to pay their high energy bills and avoid spiralling debt. Older and vulnerable people trying to survive in cold houses can very easily develop chronic health problems, including respiratory, cardiac and circulatory illnesses.
“Last month we published figures from the Scottish Ambulance Service which showed that almost 900 people over 50 were taken to hospital for hypothermia treatment last December. I really hope we don’t see anything like that again.
“It’s absolutely shocking that so many older people suffered in this way and it highlights the extreme risks of older people face staying warm at home. Hypothermia is entirely preventable, and yet bitterly cold temperatures paired with soaring energy prices and the loss of the universal Winter Fuel Payment are, to put it bluntly, life-threating.
“We would urge anyone worried about paying their energy bills to call our free helpline on 0800 12 44 222 to make sure they are receiving all the financial benefits and support they possible can.".
What is Pension Credit and can I claim it?
Created to help retired people on low incomes, it is there to help those on state pensions top up their household budgets.
The credit is built on two parts, with some only eligible for one of the two.
The first is the Guarantee credit which is the main part of the pension credit and gives you a top-up of your weekly income to a minimum guaranteed level.
The second part is the Savings Credit, which is for "those who reached state pension age before April 2016, there's an extra boost available if you've made provision for your retirement via savings, work or a private pension" according to MSE.
Who qualifies for Pension credit?
Over three million households qualify, but an estimated 880,000 do not claim.
To qualify for pension credit you must:
- Live in the UK
- Reach state pension age
- If you're a couple and have both reached pension age (you do not need to be married or in a civil partnership, and just need to live together)
You can also get savings credit if you cover the criteria:
- Have reached 65 if a man and 63 if a woman before April 6, 2016
- Have been awarded savings credit before April 6, 2016
- Remained entitled to savings credit at all times since April 6, 2016
You can find out more information on the government website.
