Almost one million pensioners are being encouraged to verify their eligibility for a £3,900 income boost that grants access to Winter Fuel Payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Last month, Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared that the annual allowance designed to assist with winter heating bills will no longer be universally available to all State Pensioners.
Instead, it will only be distributed to those receiving income-related benefits such as Pension Credit.
Many elderly individuals may not realise that a new claim for Pension Credit lodged before the first week in December, which later proves successful, could also qualify for a retroactive Winter Fuel Payment.
This is due to the fact that Pension Credit claims can be backdated by up to three months, provided the claimant fulfils the eligibility criteria. This would extend any new claims made prior to December to within the September 16 – 22 qualifying week, reports the Daily Record.
The Chancellor also launched an initiative to increase the uptake of Pension Credit, which currently offers financial aid and access to other benefits and discounts to 1.4 million people across Great Britain.
Older individuals on Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance will maintain their entitlement to Winter Fuel Payments. This rule remains unchanged for mixed age couples as well.
Just Group has remarked that the alteration in eligibility rules ought to prompt those who receive the State Pension to verify if they are entitled to Pension Credit.
Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, elaborated: “In contrast, the government’s own figures show that up to 880,000 families entitled to receive Pension Credit fail to claim each year, on average missing out on £2,200 a year or more than £2 billion in total. Once you add the other benefits it triggers, claiming can be worth £8,000 a year.”
He further advocated: “We would urge everyone to use this decision as a reason to check their entitlement, or to ask someone like a family member to do it on their behalf. It could mean thousands in extra income.”
How to easily check eligibility for Pension Credit
Older people can determine if they’re eligible for Pension Credit and understand how much they might expect by quickly using the online calculator available at GOV. UK here.
Alternatively, direct enquiries can be made through the Pension Credit helpline for those wishing to lay claim – to reach out, dial 0800 99 1234 any time from 8am to 6pm, Monday through Friday.
Additional expertise and guidance is accessible from:
The conclusion presents an outline of benefits and a guide on who should assess their eligibility, including the potential sums involved.
Pension Credit explained
Pension Credit is a benefit that provides additional funds to help with living expenses for those over the State Pension age and on a low income. It also opens up access to a variety of other benefits.
The benefit boosts income to a minimum of £218.15 per week for single pensioners and £332.95 for couples – more if an individual has a disability or caring responsibilities.
Even an award of just £1 per week can unlock other support, such as Winter Fuel Payments.
Additional assistance if you receive Pension Credit
If you’re eligible for Pension Credit, you can also access other forms of 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 and Winter Fuel Payment
- A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house
Changes for mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit
In May 2019, legislation was altered so that ‘mixed age couples’ – where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is not – are now viewed as a ‘working age’ couple when assessing entitlement to means-tested benefits.
This implies they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until both partners reach State Pension age. Prior to this DWP alteration, 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 utilise 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 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 the necessary questions, a summary screen will display your responses, giving you the opportunity to revise any answers before final submission. The Pension Credit calculator will then reveal the potential weekly benefit you could receive.
The next step is simply to follow the link to the application page to discover exactly what you’re entitled to from the DWP, including access to other financial support.
There’s also a handy option to print off your responses from the calculator tool, helping you to fill out the application form more swiftly without needing to recall the same details. Give the Pension Credit Calculator a go for yourself or a family member to ensure you’re claiming all the financial support you’re eligible for.
Who can’t use the Pension Credit calculator?
The calculator isn’t suitable if you or your partner:
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are deferring your State Pension
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own more than one property
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are self employed
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have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit
How to submit a claim
You can initiate your application up to four months prior to reaching State Pension age. Claims can be made any time after you reach State Pension age but can only be backdated for three months.
This means you could receive up to three months of Pension Credit in your initial payment if you were eligible during that period.
You’ll need your National Insurance number to proceed as well as details about your income, savings and investments, as well as your bank account details if you’re applying by phone or post, are required. If you’re backdating your claim, you’ll need to provide information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start.
You can apply online if you have already claimed your State Pension and there are no children or young people included in your claim. To verify your entitlement, ring the Pension Credit helpline at 0800 99 1234 or use the GOV.UK Pension Credit calculator here to determine how much you could receive.
