By the end of July this year, some 181,100 Pension Credit claims<\/a> for the means-tested benefit – worth over \u00a34,300 this year – were cleared and awarded. This is an increase of 57,200 extra claims awarded for the same period last year.<\/p>\n Pension Credit is now supporting 1.4 million older people<\/a> on a low income across the UK, including 127,584 living in Scotland.<\/p>\n READ MORE: New Winter Fuel Payment income threshold update for pensioners due up to \u00a3300<\/a>READ MORE: People over State Pension age with poor hearing could be due up to \u00a3441 each month<\/a><\/p>\n Commenting on the statistics, David Brooks, Head of Policy at leading independent financial services consultancy Broadstone<\/a>, said: \u201cIt is great news over 57,000 more pensioners entitled to Pension Credit are now receiving this important financial benefit to support their retirement incomes.<\/p>\n \u201cPension 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Pension Credit is the most under-claimed benefit and is specifically aimed at providing additional financial support for older people on a low income – singles and couples.<\/p>\n Some older people think because they have savings or own their home they would not be eligible for the means-tested benefit, which can also provide access to help with housing costs, heating bills and Council Tax<\/a>.<\/p>\n An award of just \u00a31 per week is enough to unlock other support.<\/p>\n Below is an overview of the benefit including who should check eligibility, how to go about it, how much you could get and where to get help filling in the form.<\/p>\n Who can claim Pension Credit?<\/p>\n There are two types of Pension Credit – Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.<\/p>\n To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit<\/strong> , you must be State Pension age (66). Your weekly income will need to be less than the minimum amount the UK Government says you need to live on.<\/p>\n This is \u00a3227.10 for a single person and \u00a3346.60 for a couple – this amount could be higher if you’re disabled, a carer or have certain housing costs.<\/p>\n You can only get Savings Credit if:<\/strong><\/p>\n How much could you receive from DWP?<\/p>\n Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to:<\/strong><\/p>\n You might be able to get more than this if you’re disabled or a carer, or you have certain housing costs.<\/p>\n Savings Credit can give you up to:<\/strong><\/p>\n The exact amount you\u2019ll get depends on your income and savings. Your income includes assumed income from savings and capital over \u00a310,000.<\/p>\n How to check eligibility for Pension Credit<\/p>\n Older people, or 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.<\/a><\/p>\n Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 – lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.<\/p>\n Expert help and advice is also available from:<\/strong><\/p>\n More details about claiming Pension Credit can be fond on GOV.UK here.<\/a><\/p>\n Other help if you get Pension Credit<\/p>\n If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:<\/p>\n Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit<\/p>\n In May 2019, the law changed so a \u2018mixed age couple\u2019 – a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it – are considered to be a \u2018working age\u2019 couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n To use the calculator on GOV.UK<\/a>, you will need details of:<\/p>\n You\u2019ll need the same details for your partner if you have one. You will be presented by a series of questions with multiple choice answer options.<\/p>\n This includes:<\/strong><\/p>\n Once you have answered these questions, a summary screen shows your responses, allowing you to go back and change any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then displays how much benefit you could receive each week.<\/p>\n All you have to do then is follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also an option to print off the answers you give using the calculator tool to help you complete the application form quicker without having to look out the same details again. Try the Pension Credit Calculator<\/a> for yourself or your family member to make sure you\u2019re receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim.<\/p>\n Who cannot use the Pension Credit calculator?<\/p>\n You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner:<\/p>\n How to make a claim<\/p>\n You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can claim any time after you reach State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for three months.<\/p>\n This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.<\/p>\n You will need:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re backdating your claim, you\u2019ll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start.<\/p>\n Apply online<\/p>\n You can use the online service if:<\/p>\n To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the GOV.UK Pension Credit calculator here<\/a> to find out how much you could get.<\/p>\n Join the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group<\/a> for money-saving tips, the latest State Pension and benefits news, energy bill advice and cost of living updates.<\/p>\n Sign up to our Record Money newsletter and get the top stories sent to your inbox daily from Monday to Friday with a special cost of living edition every Thursday – sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can also follow us on X<\/strong> (formerly Twitter) @Recordmoney_<\/a> for regular updates throughout the day or get money news alerts on your phone by joining our Daily Record Money WhatsApp community<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
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The number of Pension Credit claimants has soared since last summer.(Image: SHARED CONTENT UNIT)How to use the Pension Credit calculator<\/p>\n\n
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