Are you missing out on Pension Credit?
Over a hundred thousand households across the East of England are missing out on Pension Credit, losing £3,900 a year on average. Citizens Advice Ipswich wants to make sure families in the Ipswich area are supporting their loved ones to check their entitlement to this vital welfare benefit.
Following the changes to the entitlement to Winter Fuel Payments, the Government is urging all eligible pensioners to apply for Pension Credit by 21 December, which is the final date to make a backdated claim for Pension Credit and receive the Winter Fuel Payment.
In a drive to raise awareness of Pension Credit, Citizens Advice Ipswich is asking the following questions to help identify households missing out on this important benefit.
- Are you over State Pension age and on a low income?
- As a single person, do you have less than £218.15 per week coming in to live on…or, as a couple do you have a joint weekly income below £332.95?
If your answer to both those questions is ‘Yes’, but you are currently not receiving Pension Credit, then you could be missing out on a key state benefit that you may well be fully entitled to.
If you are over state pension age, even if you own your own home or have some savings, it may be worth checking to see if you are entitled to receive Pension Credit to help with day to day living costs.
Pension Credit also opens the door to other benefits such as the Winter Fuel Payment.
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual one-off payment to help pensioners pay for heating during the winter, introduced in 1997. Depending on your age and if you live with somebody else who’s eligible, it could provide up to £300 towards your bills.
Recent changes announced by the government mean that only those receiving Pension Credit or other means tested benefits will now be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments.
Pension Credit is tax free and tops up your weekly income to a minimum level of £218.15 a week for single pensioner or £332.95 a week for couples. Even if your income is higher, you might be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, or you have housing costs.
Around a third of those eligible for Pension Credit are not claiming it and could be missing out on this extra financial help which can also open the door to other help available such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax reduction, help with NHS costs, Winter Fuel Payment, Cold Weather Payments and a free TV licence for those over 75.
People can have savings, or even another pension and still be eligible for Pension Credit. Unlike other income related benefits there is no capital cut off limit and savings of under £10,000 are not counted. Almost half of the people who get Pension Credit own their own home. You may still be entitled to Pension Credit – even if you’re not entitled to a State Pension. It’s always worth checking.
When people apply for Pension Credit, they can also get help to apply for Housing Benefit at the same time, but they will need to contact their local council if they wish to apply for a reduction in their Council Tax.
If you think yourself or someone you know might qualify there is an online calculator on the government website at https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator , or you can claim by phone or by post by ringing the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
You can contact Citizens Advice Ipswich via 0808 278 7867 or via our website https://www.citizensadviceipswich.org.uk/
“Pension Credit is easy to claim – just a phone call to the Helpline on 0800 99 1234 will inform you if you are entitled to the extra payment.”