More than 1.2 million individuals above the State Pension age could be due a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or their local council, inviting them to claim Pension Credit. This would grant them access to this year’s Winter Fuel Payment.
Winter Fuel Payments will be made available for a wide range of pensioners (Image: Getty)
The DWP’s latest figures reveal that as of May end this year, over 1.1m elderly people were receiving Housing Benefit, including more than 116,000 residing in Scotland.
Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds recently confirmed in a written response to Labour MP Rachel Maskell that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall had written to all local authorities on August 20.
The DWP Minister clarified that the letter “acknowledged the vital role local authorities play in supporting their communities”. She added that an estimated 120,000 Housing Benefit claimants identified as potentially being entitled to Pension Credit will be contacted directly and invited to make a claim before December 21, 2024.
This specific date in December ensures that new Pension Credit claims submitted by then will be eligible for a backdated Winter Fuel Payment, worth between £100 and £200, reports the Daily Record.
The eligibility change to Winter Fuel Payments will result in around 10m people over State Pension age across Great Britain missing out on the annual heating help. An estimated 1.5m will receive the payment automatically in November or December this year.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveals that an estimated 880,000 pensioners aren’t claiming their eligible Pension Credit and has kicked off a national campaign to boost its uptake. The scheme especially targets those on Housing Benefit, aiming to increase financial support for low-income seniors.
Ms Maskell had previously contacted the DWP to encourage local authorities to proactively reach out to every pensioner receiving Housing Benefit about claiming Pension Credit.
In response, the Pensions Minister acknowledged the extensive efforts by many local councils to promote awareness of benefits. The minister stated: “The Government recognises that many local authorities already do a huge amount of work to promote benefit take-up. We are asking that local authorities support our national Pension Credit campaign and help us reach those eligible pensioners who have not claimed Pension Credit, so they continue to receive an annual Winter Fuel Payment.”
Adding to the initiatives, the minister disclosed: “Building on last year’s ‘Invitation to Claim’ trial, the Department will be directly contacting approximately 120,000 pensioner households who are in receipt of Housing Benefit and who may also be eligible for, but not currently claiming, Pension Credit.”
Further detailing the outreach, the statement concluded with: “We will be inviting these households to apply for Pension Credit before the 21 December backdating deadline, in order to ensure that if they are eligible they will also qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment.”
Individuals don’t need to wait for a letter to apply for Pension Credit, they can check their eligibility now online at GOV. UK or by calling the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234.
Many older people mistakenly believe that having savings or owning their home disqualifies them from this means-tested benefit. However, Pension Credit can also provide assistance with housing costs, heating bills and Council Tax.
Even an award of just £1 per week can unlock additional support.
Here’s a brief overview of the benefit, including who should check their eligibility, how to do it, potential amounts you could receive, and where to find help with the application process.
Who is eligible for Pension Credit?
There are two types of Pension Credit – Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.
To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit, you must be of State Pension age (currently 66). Your weekly income needs to be less than the minimum amount the UK Government says you need to live on.
This is £218.15 for a single person and £332.95 for a couple. These amounts could be higher if you’re disabled, a carer, or have certain housing costs.
You can only get Savings Credit if:
- you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, or you have a partner who reached State Pension age before this date and was already receiving it
- you have qualifying income of at least £189.80 a week for a single person and £301.22 a week for a couple
How much could you receive?
Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to:
Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to:
- £218.15 for a single person
- £332.95 for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting)
You might be able to get more than this if you’re disabled or a carer, or you have certain housing costs.
Savings Credit can give you up to:
- £17.01 a week for a single person
- £19.04 a week for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting).
You might be able to get more than this if you’re disabled, a carer, or have certain housing costs.
The exact amount you’ll receive depends on your income and savings. This includes assumed income from savings and capital over £10,000.
Here’s how to check if you’re eligible for Pension Credit
Elderly individuals, or their friends and family, can swiftly verify their eligibility and get an estimate of potential benefits by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV. UK here.
Alternatively, pensioners can reach out to the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 – lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Expert guidance and advice is also accessible from:
- Independent Age
- Income Max
- Citizens Advice
- Age UK
Additional assistance if you receive Pension Credit
If you’re eligible for Pension Credit, you can also avail other help, such as:
- Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
- Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
- Council Tax discount
- Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over
- Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments
- Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme or Winter Fuel Payments
- A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house
Mixed age older couples and Pension Credit
In May 2019, the law was altered so a ‘mixed age couple’ – a pair where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is below it – are deemed to be a ‘working age’ couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits.
This implies they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until both partners reach State Pension age. Prior to this DWP change, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age.
How to utilise the Pension Credit calculator
To use the calculator on GOV. UK, you will require details of:
- earnings, benefits and pensions
- savings and investments
You’ll need the same details for your partner if you have one. You will be presented with a series of questions with multiple-choice answer options.
This includes:
- Your date of birth
- Your residential status
- Where in the UK you live
- Whether you are registered blind
- Which benefits you currently receive
- How much you receive each week for any benefits you get
- Whether someone is paid Carer’s Allowance to look after you
- How much you get each week from pensions – State Pension, private and work pensions
- Any employment earnings
- Any savings, investments or bonds you have
Once you’ve answered the questions, a summary screen will display your responses, giving you the opportunity to revise any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator will then reveal how much benefit you could receive each week.
Next, simply follow the link to the application page to discover exactly what you’ll receive from the DWP, including access to other financial support.
There’s also an option to print off your responses from the calculator tool to help speed up the application process without having to search for the same details again.
How to make a claim
You can begin your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can claim at any time after you reach State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for three months.
This means you could receive up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that period.
You will need:
- your National Insurance number
- information about your income, savings and investments
- your bank account details, if you’re applying by phone or by post
To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the GOV.UK Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you could get.
