The DWP’s Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit for people who have reached the minimum qualifying age for State Pension Credit and is designed to help those on lower incomes
DWP to give certain state pensioners extra £79 a week(Image: Compassionate Eye Foundation/Gary Burchell via Getty Images)
State pensioners are being encouraged to claim an additional £79 every week from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). With DWP Pension Credit, you could receive an extra £67.42 a week for each child or young person you’re responsible for.
This is increased to £78.10 a week for the first child if they were born before 6 April 2017. The child or young person must normally live with you and be under the age of 20.
If they’re 16 or over and under 20, they must be in (or accepted for) approved training, such as Foundation Apprenticeships or a course of non-advanced education (for example, they’re studying for GCSEs or A levels).
If they’re in education, it must be for more than 12 hours a week on average. If the child or young person is disabled, you could also get an extra amount of either: £36.54 a week if they get DLA, PIP or ADP OR £114.12 a week if they’re blind or they get the highest rate care component of DLA or CDP, or the enhanced daily living component of PIP or ADP.
You could get an extra amount to cover your housing costs, such as ground rent if your property is a leasehold, some service charges or charges for tents and site rents. The amount you could get depends on your housing costs, reports Birmingham Live.
You could get the ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and you saved some money for retirement, for example a personal or workplace pension.
If you’re single, you could receive up to £17.30 a week in Savings Credit. For those with a partner, the amount increases to up to £19.36 a week.
Even if you don’t qualify for the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, you may still be eligible for some Savings Credit.
Calculating how much Guarantee Pension Credit you can receive is complex. The process involves comparing your weekly income (which includes your partner’s income if you live with them) to a weekly amount set by the government.
Your income encompasses State Pension, other pensions, earnings from work and self-employment, and most social security benefits.
The actual amount you receive will differ for each individual as you could also be entitled to additional amounts, depending on your circumstances. For instance, there are extra amounts available for carers or individuals with disabilities.
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