Time is running out for eligible people of State Pension age to claim the UK Government’s cost of living payment, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has warned.
Older people only have until next week to submit the claims they need in order to qualify for the £650 support payment . Those who put in a claim for Pension Credit will be eligible for the full amount - but they must do so before the deadline of Thursday, August 18 .
The means-tested payment is split into two halves, with eligible households having received the first instalment of £326 by July 31 and a second payment of £324 due this autumn. But the first payment can be backdated for eligible claimants if they apply for Pension Credit before the deadline next week, the Daily Record reports .
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DWP confirmed in its latest Touchbase newsletter: “To qualify for the first cost of living payment, worth £326, a person must be entitled to a payment of Pension Credit on any day from April 26 to May 25, 2022. However, new claims for Pension Credit can be backdated for a maximum of three months provided the entitlement conditions are met throughout the three months.
It continued: “To guarantee that 25 May will be included in the first Pension Credit payment for pensioners wishing to backdate a new claim, we are advising that claims should be made as soon as possible and no later than 18 August. We would like to ensure everyone who is eligible for Pension Credit, claims it as soon as possible so they do not miss out on the cost of living payment."
Pension Credit is currently given to 1.4 million older people in the UK who are on a low income. If you’re of State Pension age or older and think that you may be eligible to receive Pension Credit, you can find more information on the Gov.uk website or use this calculator to check your eligibility.
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