Anyone aged 66 or older with an income of under £235 a week is being urged to make one phone call which could land you thousands of pounds a year in handouts and secure your eligibility for a Winter Fuel Allowance payment of up to £600 on top.
Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert website, via Martin’s latest tip email, is urging people ‘don’t stall, just call’, or go online, to check if you can get pension credit if you’re over 66.
Pension Credit is worth an average of £72 per week – that £3,774 a year.
Pension Credit also gives you a free TV Licence, energy discounts and council tax discount, making the real value closer to £4,000.
And now, thanks to changes to Winter Fuel Allowance announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Pension Credit will also make you eligible for up to £600 of Winter Fuel Payments as well.
Martin Lewis’ MSE website says: “It’ll be a tough winter for many. Yet 800,000 are missing a pension boost of £1,000s & should claim it now. If you’re age 66+ with income under £235/wk, DON’T STALL, JUST CALL.
“Now, just to be more accurate, if your income is under £218 a week (£333 for a couple), you are very LIKELY to get Pension Credit, as this is the level of the full state pension it is meant to top up. If your income is £218 to £235 a week (£333 to £350 for a couple), there’s a chance you’ll get it, and generally it’s higher if you claim certain disability benefits or have caring responsibilities. So if this is you, it’s worth checking.”
Martin Lewis said about the change to Winter Fuel Allowance: The Chancellor’s restricting Winter Fuel Payments to just those on benefits – that’s too narrow a group
“Pensioners were already due to get less this winter, as it’ll be the first time since 2022 they haven’t got the up to £300 extra winter fuel cost-of-living top-up. Add the fact the Energy Price Cap is likely to rise 10% by winter, and so the usual £100 to £300 Winter Fuel Payments will be crucial to many to stop energy bills being unaffordable.
“Of course there’s an argument for ending its universality due to tight national finances, but in my view it’s being squeezed to too narrow a group – just those on benefits and Pension Credit. Leaving, again, those just above the thresholds hardest hit.”
