The DWP has launched a campaign calling on anyone over retirement age to check their eligibility for pension credit, which could be worth more than £3,300 a year. The Department for Work and Pensions wants everyone in the UK over the age of 66 to make sure they are not missing out on a huge sum of money.
The Pension Credit can help to supplement the income of retirees, even if they already receive a public or private pension or if they have another source of income. Some seniors think that because they have savings or own their home they wouldn’t qualify for a pension credit, but many miss the extra money and discounts it offers, every month. .
People who receive pension credit could also get extra financial help with council tax, housing allowances, hearing bills and a free TV license for the over-75s, The Daily reports. Record. New figures from the DWP show that around 131,600 elderly people in Scotland currently receive pension credit, however, many more are still not applying for this extra financial help, which could help offset the cost of living crisis.
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From this month, advertising for Pension Credit will appear in internet search results and social media, before being extended to national and regional newspapers. The DWP will also distribute leaflets for businesses to use within Scottish communities, while businesses can also get involved in the campaign by spreading the word to their customers using the DWP’s digital toolkit and encouraging them to call the complaint line.
All state pension recipients will continue to receive pension credit reminders by post as part of the DWP’s annual upgrade communications. Currently more than 1.4million older people across the UK receive pension credit, but it is estimated that up to £1.7billion is unclaimed by hundreds of thousands of pensioners across the country.
Henry Tapper, who runs the Pension Playpen, a network of retirement professionals, describes Pension Credit as a “doorway to more”. He told BBC Radio 4’s Money Box Live on April 2 that there was more to be gained than just financial support.
He said: “You don’t just get the pension credit, it’s a doorway to more – a doorway to things like council tax cuts and free TV licenses. [for over 75s] – a whole field of great things.
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Presenter Paul Lewis added that in financial terms, Pension Credit can provide up to £2,000 in monetary benefits, plus a further £1,000 or more in other reductions and discounts.
Commenting on the new awareness campaign, Pensions Minister Guy Opperman said: “We recognize the challenges that some pensioners in Scotland will face with the cost of living, which is why promoting pension credit is a priority.
“Anyone who has family, friends and loved ones in retirement should check with them to see if they can get this extra help.”
He added: “Pension Credit can be claimed over the phone and online, ensuring older people can apply safely wherever they are. The online Pension Credit Calculator is also available to help retirees check if they are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they might receive.
The campaign also includes tackling some of the myths that can prevent people from applying for the benefit, such as having savings, a pension or owning a home are not necessarily barriers to getting the benefit. pension credit.
The online Pension Credit Calculator can help seniors quickly check if they’re likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they might receive – find out more here.
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “Pension credit can make a big difference if you’ve reached statutory retirement age and don’t have a lot of money. With prices rising quickly at this time it is more important than ever to claim what is rightfully yours We urge any older person who thinks they are eligible to make a claim and Age UK is here to provide advice and practical support to help you in the process.
“The Pension Credit is a well-kept secret – many people just haven’t heard of it. It’s such a shame because at Age UK we see how much it helps those who actually receive it. We hope this campaign is the first step in a sustained effort by the UK government to draw the attention of the older public to the pension credit, and we wholeheartedly support it for that reason. The pension credit is really important for seniors and deserves to be much better known.
The pension credit is designed to help cover day-to-day living expenses for people over state pension age and on low incomes, although you do not need to receive a state pension for the to receive.
It supplements a person’s income to a minimum of £177.10 per week for single pensioners or £270.30 for couples, however these amounts will increase to £182.60 per week for single pensioners and £278.70 for couples from Monday 11 April.
Morgan Vine, Head of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, said: ‘We know this support can be life changing, but for too long too many eligible over 65s have been missing out.
“With the cost of living crisis making life even harder for those over 65, action on Pension Credit has never been more urgent. Awareness campaigns are part of the strategic approach needed at this critical time, so it is very positive to see the government working with local partners to provide awareness materials.
Find out more about Pension Credit on the GOV.UK website here.
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What is Pension Credit?
Pension Credit is an income-related benefit for people living in the UK who are over retirement age.
It offers seniors a weekly supplement to their income – you can also choose to be paid fortnightly or every four weeks.
It is accessible to single pensioners, including widows and widowers, as well as to couples.
To use the online calculator, you will need the following details:
You will need the same details for your partner if you have one.
Who cannot use the pension credit calculator?
You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner:
defer your state pension
own more than one property
are independent
have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown tenant rent) that are neither mortgage payments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit
How to make a complaint
You can start your application up to four months before reaching retirement age.
You can apply anytime after reaching state retirement age, but your application can only be backdated by three months.
This means you can get up to three months of pension credit on your first payment if you qualified during that time.
You will need:
your national insurance number
information about your income, savings and investments
your bank details, if you are applying by phone or by post
If you are backdating your application, you will need details of your income, savings and investments as of the date you want your application to start.
Apply online
You can use the online service if:
To check your entitlements, call the Pension Credit Helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the GOV.UK Pension Credit Calculator here to find out how much you could get.
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Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-04-05 08:32:31
