CLAIM IT
Martin Lewis urgent ‘don’t stall, just call’ warning that 800,000 pensioners are missing out on boost worth £1,000s
Plus, we've explained exactly who's eligible
MARTIN Lewis has issued an urgent warning to hundreds of thousands of pensioners missing out on a major cash boost.
The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) is urging pensioners to check if they qualify for pension credit.
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The benefit is worth £1,000s and you must claim it to qualify for this year's £300 winter fuel payment.
In the latest MSE Newsletter, Martin said: "We've long urged all lower-income pensioners to check if they're due pension credit.
"Now it's even more important. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the up to £300 annual winter fuel payment currently given to all pensioners in England and Wales will be restricted to only those on means-tested benefits - the main one for over-66s being Pension Credit.
"Yet there are 800,000 over state pension age who are eligible but don't claim."
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Pension credit tops up your living costs if you're over the state pension age and on a low income.
It can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
This is separate from your state pension, and you can qualify for the scheme even if you have other income, savings, or property.
Martin said: "You can check if you're due Pension Credit via web or phone.
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"So don't stall, just call."
Customers can call the claims helpline on 0800 99 1234 (Northern Ireland 0808 100 6165)."
You can also check your eligibility online by visiting www.gov.uk/pension-credit first.
Could you be eligible for Pension Credit?
CHECK IF YOU QUALIFY
Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or to £332.95 if you have a partner.
This is known as "guarantee credit".
If your income is lower than this, you're very likely to be eligible for the benefit.
However, if your income is slightly 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.
You could get an extra £81.50 a week if you have a disability or claim any of the following:
- Attendance allowance
- The middle or highest rate from the care component of disability living allowance (DLA)
- The daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
- Armed forces independence payment
- The daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) at the standard or enhanced rate.
You could get the "savings credit" part of pension credit if both of the following apply:
- You reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016
- You saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension
This part of pension credit is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples.
Pension credit opens the door to other support, including housing benefits, cost of living payments, council tax reductions and the winter fuel payment.
How do I apply for pension credit?
YOU can start your application up to four months before you reach state pension age.
Applications for pension credit can be made on the government website or by ringing the pension credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
You can get a friend or family member to ring for you, but you'll need to be with them when they do.
You'll need the following information about you and your partner if you have one:
- National Insurance number
- Information about any income, savings and investments you have
- Information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want to backdate your application to (usually three months ago or the date you reached state pension age)
If you claim after you reach pension age, you can backdate your claim for up to three months.
PENSION CREDIT PERKS
Martin said: "Pension Credit has a superpower… it's a gateway entitlement triggering many other boons.
"If you're entitled to the guarantee credit element, this also entitles you to a host of other state protections, including - as we've already discussed - the winter fuel payment.
Aorund 10million pensioners will no longer be eligible for winter fuel payments as part of cuts made by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The £300 government handout was previously available to everyone aged above 66 and helped with pricey energy costs.
However, Ms Reeves said on Monday that the cash would only be given to retirees on pension credit, or other means-tested benefits.
But claims for pension credit also open doors to further discounts.
For example, pension credit claimants over the age of 75 qualify for a free TV licence worth up to £169.50 a year.
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Claims for the benefit also provide eligibility to £25 a week cold weather payments and the £150 warm home discount.
We have a guide on all the state pension freebies and discounts you can get.
What is the warm home discount?
THE warm home discount scheme is a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill.
If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount directly to your bill - you don't get paid the money into your account.
Lots of people get the discount automatically, but failure to claim other benefits, such as the "guarantee element" of pension credit or Universal Credit means you won't get the discount.
There are two main ways to qualify for the warm home discount.
The first is if you’re getting the guarantee element of pension credit.
The other way to get the warm home discount is if you’re on a low income and in receipt of certain benefits.
You might be eligible if:
- your energy supplier is part of the scheme
- you or your partner get certain means-tested benefits or tax credits
- your property has a high energy cost score based on its characteristics
- your name or your partner’s is on the electricity bill
The qualifying benefits are:
- Housing benefit
- Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA)
- Income support
- The "savings credit" part of pension credit
- Universal Credit
Check with your energy supplier directly to see if you're eligible.
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