The Minister for Work and Welfare has said that the UK Government “understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living” and has taken further “decisive action” to support households with their energy bills. Victoria Prentis MP, also said that the £37 billion in financial support includes up to £650 in cost of living payments, which have been designed to target support at around eight million low-income households on means-tested benefits and older people receiving Pension Credit.
In addition, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) minister said that more than eight million pensioner households will receive a one-off payment of £300 through the Winter Fuel Payment from mid-November, and that six million eligible disabled people received a one-off disability cost of living payment of £150 in September.
The response came following a query from Labour MP, Rachael Maskell, to the DWP regarding additional support to older people who cannot meet the cost of energy bills, rising food prices and other living expenses.
Ms Prentis also highlighted that the Household Support Fund is providing support for older people with £79 million given to the Scottish Government to distribute across all 32 local councils.
The DWP minister said: “Ongoing financial support for help with the cost of living is provided to people over State Pension age through State Pensions, Pension Credit and Housing Benefit, and to people below State Pension age through Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance.
“In some cases, and especially in the case of Pension Credit, these entitlements may also give access to other support such as help with Council Tax, NHS costs, discounts on energy bills, and free TV licences for those aged 75 or over.”
Ms Prentis also highlighted how older people with a long-term health condition may be able to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance - depending on their age.
PIP is only available to adults of working age and below State Pension age. Although, if you were previously claiming it before you turned 66 you may be able to re-claim the benefit.
Ms Prentis explained: “People with a long-term health condition or disability may be entitled to one of the following non-means tested benefits to help them meet the additional costs that arise from disability: Attendance Allowance; Disability Living Allowance; or Personal Independence Payment.
“These benefits can be paid in addition to any other social security benefits and may qualify people for additional amounts or premiums as part of these benefits.”
The DDWP also recently confirmed that it is not too late for older people to make a new claim for Pension Credit and be eligible for the second means-tested cost of living payment, worth £324. For someone over 66 to qualify, they must have been entitled to a payment of Pension Credit on or before the qualifying date of September 25, 2022.
Pension Credit is a retrospective benefit, which means it can be backdated by three months and the last date for those who can successfully backdate their claim is December 19, though DWP is urging people to get their applications in “as soon as possible”.
Even if someone is only awarded one penny they will qualify for the £324 payment.
DWP explained: “People do not have to do anything extra to backdate their claim. If they make their application online, they will automatically be asked about backdating, and if they make their application over the phone the adviser will talk them through this.”
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 Pension Credit, 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.
To keep up to date with the latest State Pension news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out three times each week - sign up here.
READ NEXT
- New Pension Credit claimants who get an award for at least 1p will qualify for extra £324 payment
-
People of State Pension age to get £300 on top of Winter Fuel Payment from next month
-
Older people making new claim for Pension Credit could get decision before Christmas
-
State Pension petition calling for £380 per week could now be debated in Parliament
