The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging older people to check whether they’re eligible to receive Pension Credit, with multiple ways to claim available.
Pension Credit gives people of State Pension age who are on a low income extra money to help with their living costs, with the average recipient getting £3,300 a year according to DWP. But it’s thought that around 800,000 households are missing out on Pension Credit, with DWP saying that around a third of eligible pensioners aren’t claiming the benefit.
You can claim Pension Credit by applying online via the gov.uk website or by phone, and can also ask a family member to do this for you. DWP also offers another way to put in a claim that could make the process easier for some, the Daily Record reports .
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There is an interactive Pension Credit claim form available on the gov.uk website which can be downloaded, filled out on a computer or other device and then posted to the Pension Service. This way of applying could prove useful for those who are unable to put in a claim over the phone, or have limited access to the internet.
Unlike the other gov.uk online application process, which times out and forces you to start from scratch if you leave the page or don’t enter any details for more than 30 minutes, you can save your progress in this form and come back to it later. The interactive form could also help more people complete the application on behalf of an older family member.
You can find other ways to put in a claim here , including by phone or using the online service. Anyone who thinks they could be eligible to receive Pension Credit is encouraged to check now, as DWP has confirmed that new successful claims made for the benefit before December 19 will qualify for the second £324 cost of living payment.
DWP has called on older people to check whether they could be eligible for Pension Credit by visiting their information page or using their online calculator to find out how much they could be entitled to before they put in a claim. Those eligible for the benefit could get support with housing costs, council tax or heating bills.
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