{"id":396966,"date":"2025-09-04T10:13:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T10:13:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/396966\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T10:13:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T10:13:20","slug":"people-over-state-pension-age-living-alone-could-be-due-4300-annual-income-top-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/396966\/","title":{"rendered":"People over State Pension age living alone could be due \u00a34,300 annual income top-up"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pension Credit claims can be backdated by up to three months and can unlock access to other support.<\/p>\n

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed that nearly 78 per cent of all new claims for Pension Credit are processed – from initial application to award decision letter – within the target timeframe of 50 working days (10 weeks). This means older people<\/a> on a low income making a new claim this month, especially those living on their own, could receive their first payment and any arrears by mid-November.<\/p>\n

Despite the full New State Pension now worth \u00a3230.25 per week and the full Basic State Pension worth \u00a3176.45, data from the Office for National Statistics<\/a> (ONS) shows that in 2021, some 3.3 million people aged 65 years and over were living alone in England and Wales, with around 337,000 single pensioner households recorded in Scotland.<\/p>\n

As the seasons change, colder weather setting in and energy bills set to rise, it\u2019s crucial for all older people – single, married or cohabiting – to make sure they are claiming all the additional financial support<\/a> they are entitled to this year to help boost their income and offset the ongoing impact of the cost of living.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Pensioners claiming new health benefit could receive first payment before end of this month<\/a>READ MORE: DWP confirms Winter Fuel Payment amounts due for every pensioner household<\/a><\/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. Nearly 1.4 million older people across Great Britain, including more than 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving the means-tested benefit that could provide an average of \u00a34,300 in extra support during the coming months.<\/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