The DWP has published new figures showing the impact of the benefit changes on some claims – and it could be good news for you
People could be entitled to more than £4,300 a year they are not currently claiming. So says the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – and it comes amid changes to the UK benefits system.
Fresh data has been released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It shows that in the 12 months after the July 29, 2024 announcement restricting Winter Fuel Payments to Pension Credit recipients and those on other qualifying income-related benefits, applications have soared by 44 per cent, rising by 98,200 extra claims to reach 320,300.
By July’s end this year, roughly 181,100 Pension Credit applications for the means-tested benefit – worth more than £4,300 annually – were processed and approved. This marks an increase of 57,200 additional successful claims compared to the equivalent period last year. Pension Credit is now supporting 1.4 million elderly people on low incomes across the UK, reports the Daily Record.
Reacting to the statistics, David Brooks, Head of Policy at leading independent financial services consultancy Broadstone, commented: “It is great news over 57,000 more pensioners entitled to Pension Credit are now receiving this important financial benefit to support their retirement incomes.
“Pension Credit is explicitly targeted at lower income pensioners but hundreds of thousands of eligible retired households are still not claiming this benefit. While the UK Government’s policy on Winter Fuel Payments has grown awareness of this issue and increased take up of Pension Credit significantly, the rise of claimants in the past year still does not get near to closing the gap sufficiently.
“We would urge all pensioners to check whether they are eligible for Pension Credit as we head towards another winter that appears likely to be dominated by the cost of living, the adequacy of the State Pension and further tax rises.”
Pension Credit remains the most under-claimed benefit and is specifically designed to provide additional financial support for older people on a low income – both singles and couples. Couples can make joint claims.
Some elderly people mistakenly think that having savings or owning their property would disqualify them from this means-tested benefit, which can also provide help with accommodation expenses, energy bills and council tax.
An entitlement of merely £1 weekly is sufficient to access additional forms of assistance.
Fastest way to check eligibility for Pension Credit
Older people, or their friends and family, can swiftly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they might receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK here.
Alternatively, pensioners can ring the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 – lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit
In May 2019, the law changed so a ‘mixed age couple’ – a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it – are considered to be a ‘working age’ couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits.
This means they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before 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 submit a claim
You can initiate your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can make a claim 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 require:
- your National Insurance number
- information about your income, savings and investments
- your bank account details, if you’re applying by phone or by post
If you’re backdating your claim, you’ll need information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to commence.
Apply online
You can utilise the online service if:
- you have already claimed your State Pension
- there are no children or young people included in your claim