Pension Credit is the most under-claimed benefit in the UK – here’s what you need to know
Around 700,000 people in the UK are missing out on this payment(Image: Getty)
Pensioners are being urged to check if they could be entitled to an annual cash boost of approximately £4,300, as it’s believed hundreds of thousands of people are missing out. It’s estimated that 760,000 people over the State Pension age qualify for this top-up but aren’t claiming it.
Pension Credit offers more than just direct financial assistance; it can also provide additional help with heating bills, housing costs, Council Tax and free TV licences for those aged 75 and above. However, as highlighted by the Daily Record, Pension Credit is the most under-claimed benefit in the UK.
It’s specifically designed to offer extra financial support for older people on a low income – both singles and couples. Nearly 1.4 million older people across Great Britain are currently receiving this means-tested benefit that could provide an average of £4,300 in additional support in the upcoming months.
Yet, some elderly people believe that because they have savings or own their home, they would not qualify for this means-tested benefit, which can also provide help with housing costs, heating bills and Council Tax. An award of merely £1 per week is sufficient to unlock other forms of support.
Pension Credit is the most under-claimed benefit in the UK(Image: Getty)
Below is a summary of the benefit including who should check eligibility, how to do it, and how much you could receive.
Who is eligible to claim Pension Credit?
There are two types of Pension Credit – Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit, you must have reached the State Pension age of 66 and your weekly income should be less than the minimum amount the UK Government deems necessary to live on.
This sum is £227.10 for a single person and £346.60 for a couple – these figures could increase if you’re disabled, a carer or have certain housing costs.
For Savings Credit eligibility, you need to have reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, or have a partner who reached State Pension age before this date and was already receiving it. You also need a qualifying income of at least £198.27 a week for a single person and £314.34 a week for a couple.
Pension Credit can boost your income to £227.10 a week for a single person and £346.60 for a couple(Image: Getty)What you can get from the DWP
Guarantee Credit boosts your weekly income to £227.10 for a single person or £346.60 for a couple (whether married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting). You may be eligible for more if you’re disabled or a carer, or you have certain housing costs.
Savings Credit can provide up to £17.30 a week for a single person or £19.36 a week for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting). The exact amount you’ll receive depends on your income and savings.
Your income includes assumed income from savings and capital over £10,000.
Check your eligibility for Pension Credit
Older people, or their friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK here.
Alternatively, pensioners can directly contact the Pension Credit helpline to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 – the lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.