Today is the final day older Brits can put in a claim for Pension Credit which will make them eligible to get the first £301 cost of living payment.
Millions of UK households on means-tested benefits have received the first £301 cost of living payment - all payments should have been received by May 17.
Those who got the cash needed to have received, or later found eligible to receive, a qualifying benefit between January 26 and February 25 2023.
If you did not claim Pension Credit during this period – even though you were eligible – time is running out to make a claim, and to make yourself eligible for the payment.
According to Government guidance, pensioners have until Friday, May 19 to put in a claim for Pension Credit.
This is because Pension Credit is back-dated for three months, so if you claimed now it would be back-dated to the qualifying week - making you eligible for the cost of living payment.
However, the wording of this may have caused confusion for some as the guidance says "before 19 May".
This means the deadline for making the claim would be midnight on May 18 - so by midnight tonight.
If you haven't claimed yet, you need to get onto it as soon as you can as you only need to have your application in by the deadline and not the decision.
Even if you only qualify for a tiny amount of pension credit during the qualifying week, this will be enough to qualify you for the full £301 cost of living payment.
Over 800,000 pensioners are believed to be eligible for Pension Credit but not claiming it.
What is Pension Credit and who is eligible?
Pension Credit is a benefit by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that offers those over 66 and on low incomes cash to help with daily costs.
The benefit is separate from a state pension and people can receive Pension Credit even if they have other forms of income, extra savings or their own property.
Pension Credit comes in two parts and 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:
- £201.05 if you’re single
- £306.85 if you have a partner
Your income needs to be below these amounts to claim Guarantee Credit and you may be eligible if you have a higher income depending on your circumstances - such as you have a disbility, you're a career or you have high housing costs.
If you reached the 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:
- £15.94 if you're single
- £17.84 if you're a couple
You might get additional payments if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.
You can check your eligibility and get an estimate of what you may receive by using the Government's online Pension Credit calculator
How to apply for Pension Credit?
Applications for pension credit can be made in various ways.
You can apply online on the Gov.uk website, over the phone by calling 0800 99 1234, or you can print off a paper form and send it off.
This however would take longer so if you are wanting to apply before the deadline it would be better to do it online or over the phone.
Phone lines for the Pension Credit Claims Enquiry line are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.
