State pensioners have been urged to conduct a DWP check that could potentially boost their income by £8,300. Older Brits are being asked to do a check to find out if they qualify for Pension Credit, as this benefit can top up your weekly income and provide access to a range of other support.
Recent statistics show that 40 percent of those eligible for the benefit aren’t claiming it, meaning hundreds of thousands of people are missing out. On average, claimants receive an extra £4,000 to their income thanks to the benefit, but there are many other financial incentives for putting in a claim.
Joanna Elson, CEO of Independent Age, encouraged people to check if they can claim. She said: “Even if you only receive an extra pound through Pension Credit, it’s still worth claiming because of the additional entitlements you can access.
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“With the UK Government’s proposed changes to make the Winter Fuel Payment means-tested including to people on Pension Credit it’s more important than ever that everyone receives what they are entitled to. On top of the Winter Fuel Payment – worth between £100 and £300 and paid every winter to help with energy bills – receiving Pension Credit entitles you to a host of other financial entitlements, potentially worth up to almost £8,000 a year on top.”
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Additional perks that come with Pension Credit include a free TV licence for those aged 75+, getting discounts on council tax, Housing Benefit, and on NHS costs, such as dental work and glasses. Not only that, but claimants of Pension Credit could get money off their broadband and water bills.
Ms Elson said: “To find out whether you could be entitled, you can call Independent Age’s free helpline at 0800 319 6789. Our trained advisers can take you through what you could be entitled to and how to apply. You can also apply by visiting the gov.uk website.” People can claim Pension Credit once they reach state pension age, even if you are not claiming their state pension.
The benefit tops up a single Brit’s weekly income up to £218.15, or up to £332.95 for couples. DWP stats from February 2024 reveal about 1.4 million people are pocketing Pension Credit although that’s 11,000 fewer than the previous tax year. Jon Greer, head of retirement policy at Quilter, has urged pensioners to check if they’re eligible for Pension Credit.
He highlighting its significance, saying: “It is an incredibly important benefit targeted towards the poorest pensioners in the country. The take-up of Pension Credit is a policy issue for this Government as much as the previous one, arguably more so given the change in the Winter Fuel Payment eligibility.
“Linking winter fuel payments to a benefit which appears to have just 60 percent take up has drawn broad consternation. At present, despite many media and Government awareness campaigns, there are many pensioners who are missing out on claiming pension credits despite being eligible.
“This is most often due to a lack of awareness or an assumption being made that they will not be eligible, but not checking could be incredibly costly as you may not only be missing out on a substantial boost to your retirement income, but now the Winter Fuel Payment too.”