Many people over pension age don’t claim all the benefits they’re entitled to
Many people over pension age don’t claim all the benefits they’re entitled to(Image: fizkes via Getty Images)
The Department for Work and Pensions is poised to send a letter to all state pensioners in receipt of the state pension, Attendance Allowance or Pension Credit. The DWP is set to boost payments for retirees from April this year.
If you (and your partner if you have one) are over pension age, you may be eligible for additional benefits if you’re on a low income, have limited savings, or suffer from health problems or a disability that makes day-to-day life more challenging.
Many people over pension age don’t claim all the benefits they’re entitled to, often due to lack of knowledge about which benefits are available, what the qualifying criteria are, how to maintain a claim, or concerns about what others might think.
The Department for Work and Pensions is poised to send a letter to all state pensioners in receipt of the state pension(Image: Andrii Zastrozhnov via Getty Images)
The basic and new State Pension will see a 4.8% increase from April 2026. The full rates for 2026/27 will be £241.30 per week for the new State Pension (for those reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016) – up from £230.25 in 2025/26.
The DWP will also pay £184.90 per week for the basic State Pension (the core amount in the old State Pension system) – up from £176.45 in 2025/26, reports Birmingham Live.
But it’s not just the state pension that retirees can benefit from – there are other benefits like Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance, or AA. Inflation-linked benefits and tax credits will rise by 3.8% from April 2026, according to the Labour Party government.
Meanwhile, Pension Credit will see a rise to £238 from £227 for single people and £363 from £346 for couples. There will also be increases for severely disabled retirees, and the additional amount for carers will also see a boost.
The Government is obligated to review the level of benefits each year to determine if they have kept pace with general price increases. The inflation rate in the year to September has typically been the measure used. This year, that measure stands at 3.8%. The DWP sends out letters to claimants ahead of the increase.