As the State Pension age is set to change over the coming years, certain pensioners will end up missing out on free benefits for a period of time.
At the moment, the State Pension age is 66, and those who meet this threshold will be entitled to various discounts and concessions - including a free bus pass, Government-issued cost of living payments and Pension Credit.
The Express reports that due to the planned increase in the retirement age in the years to come, the free discounts will miss out on a certain category of elderly people for a lengthy period of time. According to current Government proposals, the threshold is set to rise to 67-years-old by 2028.
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Then, the State Pension age will increase once again to 68 at some point between 2044 and 2046. And due to the Pensions Act 2014, regular reviews of the State Pension age every five years means it will continue to rise.
State Pension age forecasts are partially based on life expectancy figures and are therefore subject to change. So, which benefits that people of State Pension are entitled to?
The full list is as follows:
- Reduction in council tax bills
- Capped water bills
- £140 Warm Home Discount scheme
- £25 Cold Weather Payment scheme
- Disabled Facilities Grant (up to £30,000) to make changes to a home
- Free bus pass
- Homeowners can apply for up to £10,000 to pay for a boiler
- Homeowners can get help to pay for double glazing as part of the Green Homes Scheme
- £300 Winter Fuel Payments
- Pension Credit
- Free wigs or fabric support provided by the NHS
- Housing cost financial help
- Funeral cost financial help
- Bereavement support payments
- Court fee reduction
- Cost of Living support payments
- A free TV licence if over 75 years old
Pension Credit is a primary benefit that is associated with those who reach retirement age, and have a public pension. The benefit, administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), tops up the income of elderly people on low income.
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Pension Credit claimants can access other support, such as the Government's £650 cost of living payment, the Warm Home Discount and a free TV licence. Caroline Abrahams, the charity director at Age UK, explained: “There are so many good reasons to put in a claim for Pension Credit. Many older people are reliant on the state pension as their main source of income and just don’t have the flex in their finances to cope with the escalating cost of living.
“Putting in a successful claim could not only give a significant boost to your weekly income, it also opens the door to a wealth of extra support including help with energy bills.
“We know that around three quarters of a million pensioners are missing out on this important benefit at the moment, so we are urging anyone who is experiencing any financial issues whatsoever to put in a claim without delay.
“The sooner people act, the sooner they will find out if they are eligible for some of the additional financial help that is now available which could have a life-changing impact on their finances over the coming months.”
Those who do not claim Pension Credit can still access discounts, such as the free bus pass and the £300 cost of living payment. Other benefits available include the Cold Weather Payment and the Winter Fuel Payment.
Support from the NHS, such as free prescriptions, is all available to people aged over 60, and is not affected by the State Pension age change.
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