Labour’s decision to scrap the universal £200 to £300 Winter Fuel Payment for state pensioners in favour of means-testing has left many out in the cold this season. But there’s a lifeline financial expert Martin Lewis has shed light on a little-known tip that could help seniors claim Pension Credit and secure up to £300, even if their income exceeds the usual weekly limit of roughly £218.
Martin Lewis dropped an essential hint on X, aiming to enlighten his audience about the potential for eligibility. He stated: “Don’t assume you aren’t due winter fuel help. There’s a host of reasons you may still qualify for Pension Credit even if you’re over the threshold.”
Directing retirees for further assistance, Martin urged them to consult the Money Saving Expert site to grasp how to navigate claiming Pension Credit under these specific terms.
The guidance notes: “You can qualify with HIGHER income if you have a disability or illness. ” A prime instance is for recipients of Attendance Allowance (AA) – a vital contribution for elderly individuals needing support with daily activities. If you benefit from AA, your ceiling for Pension Credit jumps by £82/wk (not to mention AA itself is exempt from counting as income).
One triumph celebrated by Martin involves a daughter who helped her father tap into almost an extra £8,000 per year from the DWP by adopting this strategy.
Relief was palpable in her voice as she recounted her experience: “I’ve successfully claimed for my dad who has chronic arthritis – so he now gets an extra £72/wk. He has struggled for years, he’d not been able to claim Pension Credit previously as he has a small private pension.
“Now he has AA, he’s also eligible for a further £35/wk Pension Credit, and his Housing Benefit has been increased by £40/wk. So a total extra £150/wk – a huge help, and he will still be eligible for Winter Fuel Allowance, so will receive annually almost £8,000 extra. It will change his life and I’m really grateful to you.”
In addition, having savings doesn’t mean you’ll automatically miss out on Pension Credit. Indeed, the system is geared to help save: any amount under £10,000 isn’t counted, and above that figure, for every £500 or part thereof, £1 of weekly income is calculated into Pension Credit ‘tapering’.