The cold weather is certainly starting to kick in and with energy bills rocketing, any extra cash going into the household budget is welcome. Additional cash is available to some older people and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that it will continue to encourage those eligible to claim.
In fact, the government department is urging more than 11 million older people to check if they qualify for an annual income top-up worth, on average, more than £3,500 throughout December and the new year. It is also reminding eligible pensioners that making a new claim for Pension Credit before December 18, 2022, which later turns out to be successful, will result in a backdated cost of living payment worth £324. This is because a claim for Pension Credit can be backdated for up to three months taking it to the final qualifying date of September 25.
Some 149,579 Pension Credit claims were received by DWP between April and October this year, according to a report in Daily Record. Some 118,598 of those claims have now been processed. DWP has also reassigned the full time equivalent of 100 colleagues and recruited 85 temporary staff to process the increased levels of Pension Credit claims following a successful UK-wide awareness campaign in June.
READ MORE: DWP and HMRC Christmas and New Year payment date changes due to bank holidays
There was good news during Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement too. He announced that Pension Credit will increase by 10.1% from April 2023. This is on top of a 10.1% increase to State Pension, means-tested and disability benefits delivered by DWP.
Here's what you could get, how to calculate it using a simple tool, who to contact for further help, and how to apply.
Weekly payment rates for Pension Credit 2023/24
- Single: £201.05, up £18.45 from £182.60
- Couple: £306.85, up £28.15 from £278.70
People can check their eligibility for Pension Credit using the online calculator or by calling the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234.
What is Pension Credit?
Pension Credit currently gives 1.4 million people across the UK extra money to help with living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income. Some older people think because they have savings or own their home they would not be eligible for any help, but the DWP said hundreds of thousands could be missing out on the extra money and discounts it provides every month.
Other help if you get Pension Credit
If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:
- Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
- Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
- Council Tax discount
- Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over
- Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments
- Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme
- A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house
Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit
In May 2019, the law changed so that a ‘mixed age couple’ - a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it - are considered to be a ‘working age’ couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits. This means they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age.
How to use the Pension Credit calculator
To use the calculator on GOV.UK, you will need details of:
earnings, benefits and pensions
savings and investments
You’ll need the same details for your partner if you have one.
You will be presented by a series of questions with multiple choice answer options.
This includes:
- Your date of birth
- Your residential status
- Where in the UK you live
- Whether you are registered blind
- Which benefits you currently receive
- How much you receive each week for any benefits you get
- Whether someone is paid Carer’s Allowance to look after you
- How much you get each week from pensions - State Pension, private and work pensions
- Any employment earnings
- Any savings, investments or bonds you have
Once you have answered these questions, a summary screen shows your responses, allowing you to go back and change any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then displays how much benefit you could receive each week. All you have to do then is follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support.
There’s also an option to print off the answers you give using the calculator tool to help you complete the application form quicker without having to look out the same details again. Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or family member to make sure you’re receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim.
Who cannot use the Pension Credit calculator?
You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner:
are deferring your State Pension
own more than one property
are self employed
have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit
How to make a claim
You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can claim any time after you reach State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for three months. This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.
You will need:
your National Insurance number
information about your income, savings and investments
your bank account details, if you’re applying by phone or by post
If you’re backdating your claim, you’ll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start.
Apply online
You can use the online service if:
you have already claimed your State Pension
there are no children or young people included in your claim
To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the GOV.UK Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you could get.
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