A whopping 750,000 pensioners could slash their bill from £169 to nothing, but they’re unaware of it.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is encouraging people to claim Pension Credit, with the potential to bag a hefty £3,900 benefit – along with a host of other goodies.
One such perk includes a free BBC TV licence. Helen Morrissey, a retirement expert at Hargreaves Lansdown, explained: “Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single or your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner.
READ MORE: DWP to increase benefits payments for hundreds of thousands of Brits
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“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.”
Morrissey added that Pension Credit “acts as a valuable gateway to further benefits such as a free TV licence for the over-75s as well as help with council tax and NHS costs such as glasses.”
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She added: “Government data shows a huge surge in the number of Pension Credit claims made in the weeks after the announcement, so the message is getting through.
“Not all these people will make a successful claim but it’s to be hoped that we will see this surge continue over the coming months and the gap can start to meaningfully close. However, the scale of the challenge is enormous, with more than 750,000 families who could receive Pension Credit not claiming it.”
Birmingham Live reports that those on Pension Credit can also get additional assistance, including Housing Benefit if you rent your residence, Winter Fuel Payment, support for Mortgage Interest if you own your home, a Council Tax discount, a free TV licence if you’re 75 years old or over, help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments, if you receive a certain type of Pension Credit, aid with your heating expenses through the Warm Home Discount Scheme, and a discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you’re relocating.