Pensioners across the UK have been issued an urgent warning: they could be missing out on a whopping £300 in cost of living support. With the countdown ticking, there’s a tight window left to backdate Pension Credit claims and secure the 2024 Winter Fuel Payment—after Saturday, December 21, the chance vanishes.
A staggering figure has surfaced, indicating around 880,000 households are yet to claim their eligible Pension Credit, leaving nearly one million homes without the vital extra income from both Pension Credit and the Winter Fuel Payment, not to mention additional benefits such as council tax relief.
Verity Kick from Oak Tree Mobility emphasises the challenges the cold season poses for seniors, stating: “Winter can be tough, especially for our elderly loved ones. Cold days mean higher heating bills, and the health issues that are linked to cold weather can make winter particularly difficult and expensive for the elderly.”
She adds, “Around a quarter of UK adults say they’re rarely or never able to keep comfortably warm in their living room, and 6 in 10 pensioners cut back on heating their home to help manage their finances—but prolonged exposure to the cold means they’re at higher risk of injury and illness, such as hypothermia, influenza, and aggravated cases of asthma and COPD. Since government changes to winter fuel payments mean it’s now linked with pension credit, we’re urging eligible households to get the extra help they need during these chilly months.”
“You can check if you’re eligible for pension credit with this calculator, and find out how to make a claim—but if you’re struggling to navigate the process, charities like Age UK can help.”
Who qualifies for Pension Credit?
The benefit is available in two variants: Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. For Guarantee Pension Credit qualification, you need to have reached the State Pension age, pegged currently at 66 years old. The requisite weekly income must fall below what’s considered by the UK Government as the bare minimum for living—£218.15 for single folks and a higher £332.95 for couples, with potential increases if you have disabilities, care responsibilities, or certain housing costs to cover.
Savings Credit is only available under specific conditions:
- you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, or you have a partner who reached State Pension age before this date and was already receiving it
- you have qualifying income of at least £189.80 a week for a single person and £301.22 a week for a couple
How to check eligiblity for Pension Credit
To utilise the calculator on GOV. UK, you’ll need details of:
- earnings, benefits and pensions
- savings and investments
You’ll require the same information for your partner if you have one. You will be presented with 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’ve answered these questions, a summary screen displays your responses, allowing you to go back and alter any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then shows how much benefit you could receive each week.
