People of State Pension age and over are being urged to act fast if they want to be in with the chance to qualify for a cost of living cash boost. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging pensioners to ensure they can be eligible for the government's second instalment of its cost of living support payment worth £324, as prices continue to rise.
In order to qualify for the money however, people first need to make sure they are in receipt of Pension Credit - and the deadline to be able to get the benefit is fast approaching. If you think you might be eligible for Pension Credit, then you have less than three weeks to backdate a claim to qualify as the deadline is December 18.
You would be eligible for the £324 payment if you were entitled Pension Credit for any day from August 26 to September 25 this year. However, Pension Credit is a retrospective benefit, so it can be backdated to three months.
This means that people of State Pension age who are making a new claim for Pension Credit could still qualify for the second cost of living payment as long as their application is received by the deadline. This date is 12 weeks after September 25, so backdated claims made by then would fall within the qualifying period.
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Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges. It is important to note that the cost of living payment is paid separately to this benefit.
To be eligible for Pension Credit:
If you have a partner, you must include your partner on your application. You’ll be eligible if either:
- you and your partner have both reached State Pension age
- one of you is getting Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age
A partner is either:
- your husband, wife or civil partner - if you live with them
- someone you live with as a couple, without being married or in a civil partnership
When you apply for Pension Credit your income is calculated. If you have a partner, your income is calculated together. Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £182.60 if you’re single, of if you have a partner, your joint weekly income is brought up to £278.70. If your income is higher, you might still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.
Your income includes: State Pension, other pensions, earnings from employment and self-employment and most social security benefits, for example Carer’s Allowance. Not all benefits are counted as income. For example, the following are not counted:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Christmas Bonus
- Child Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- social fund payments like Winter Fuel Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
You can find out how much you could get using the Pension Credit calculator on the Gov.uk website. More information is also available about the Cost of Living Payment on that site.
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