\n\t\t\t\t\tThe number of people receiving pension credit is set to plunge by 155,000 over five years\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n
Tens of thousands of older people are set to miss out on energy bill support over the coming years as a steep drop in pension credit claims<\/a> threatens access to vital winter fuel payments.<\/p>\n New figures reveal that the number of people receiving pension credit is set to fall from 1.37 million in 2025\/26 to 1.21 million in 2029\/30 \u2013 a drop of 155,000.<\/p>\n Experts say that rising pensioner incomes due to the triple lock increasing the value of the state pension between now and 2029\/20 means fewer people will qualify.<\/p>\n Pension credit acts as a so-called passport benefit, unlocking additional support such as cold weather payments, free TV licences for over-75s, and winter fuel payments, so lower claims mean many older people are missing out on these benefits.<\/p>\n Pension credit tops up a claimant\u2019s weekly income to \u00a3227.10 or a joint weekly income to \u00a3346.60 if they have a partner.<\/p>\n The fall in claimants comes at the same time as the pension-age population is rising, meaning the proportion of pensioners<\/a> receiving this vital support is likely to shrink even faster.<\/p>\n As the number of pensioners grows, fewer are claiming the support, causing the proportion receiving it to decline more rapidly.<\/p>\n According to Government figures, the total number of pensioners on a state pension<\/a> will rise from 13.1 million this year to 13.3 million in 2029\/30.<\/p>\n Sir Steve Webb, former pensions minister and partner at LCP, told The i Paper: \u201cThe decision to restrict winter fuel payments to those on pension credit has already taken the payment away from the large majority of pensioners.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what may not be appreciated is that as fewer and fewer pensioners are entitled to pension credit in future, this will mean fewer pensioners retaining help with their winter fuel payments.<\/p>\n \u201cThe recent publicity boost for pension credit does not change the long-term downward trend in the numbers receiving the benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n Tom Selby, director of public policy at AJ Bell, said it is likely that fewer pensioners would qualify for the benefit because pension incomes are rising, partly due to the triple lock on the state pension.<\/p>\n