The Department will be continuing its awareness campaign this year, encouraging people to check their eligibility and make a claim. Married pensioners with a combined weekly income of less than \u00a3346 per week, or single pensioners with an income of below \u00a3227.10 could be eligible for Pension Credit<\/a>.<\/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>. However, an award of just \u00a31 per week is enough to unlock other support.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Pensioners on disability benefits may be due an extra \u00a383 every week<\/a>READ MORE: Full list of New and Basic State Pension weekly payments due from April<\/a><\/p>\n The 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 on a low income making a new claim this month, could receive their first payment and any arrears by the end of December.<\/p>\n It\u2019s crucial for all older people – single, married or cohabiting – to make sure they are claiming all the additional financial support they are entitled to this year to help boost their income and offset the ongoing cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n Below is everything you need to know about the benefit.<\/p>\n Pension Credit in a nutshell<\/p>\n When you apply for Pension Credit your income is calculated. If you have a partner, your income is calculated together.<\/p>\n Pension Credit tops up:<\/strong><\/p>\n If your income is higher, you might still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.<\/p>\n What counts as income<\/p>\n Your income includes:<\/p>\n What does not count as income<\/p>\n Not all benefits are counted as income. For example, the following are not counted:<\/p>\n Your savings<\/p>\n If you have \u00a310,000 or less in savings and investments this will not affect your Pension Credit.<\/p>\n If you have more than \u00a310,000, every \u00a3500 over \u00a310,000 counts as \u00a31 income a week. For example, if you have \u00a311,000 in savings, this counts as \u00a32 income a week.<\/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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Older people with a weekly State Pension of less than \u00a3346 could be due extra money from DWP.\u00a0(Image: Getty Images )How to use the Pension Credit calculator<\/p>\n\n
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