Martin Lewis has sounded the alarm, calling for action to spread awareness among the elderly about the critical opportunity they might be missing out on – securing the Winter Fuel Payment. The personal finance guru urged everyone to notify older folks including friends, family, and neighbours that this benefit is linked to receiving a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit.
Amidst the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ‘Week of Action’, Martin backed the initiative aimed at raising Pension Credit claim rates – a distressingly underclaimed financial aid. He’s galvanizing nearly 900,000 retirees to use an online tool or ring up the Pension Credit helpline at 0800 99 1234 to ascertain their eligibility.
With a rendezvous with Chancellor Rachel Reeves looming, the MoneySavingExpert founder schemes to pitch widening the qualifying criteria to envelop those in lesser Council Tax brackets. Additionally, he urged pensioners who’ve had prior rejections to probe their eligibility afresh, especially since the threshold for Pension Credit was boosted by 8.5% in April, potentially favouring those nudged over the edge previously by small private pensions.
In his latest MSE bulletin dispatch, Lewis emphasised: “If you were just over the margin before (primarily due to a small private pension) you might be newly eligible, as in April the Pension Credit threshold was increased by 8.5%. For a few, it’s worth checking again. Also, if you’ve got new responsibilities as a carer, it’s vital to recheck.”
Martin Lewis, the financial guru, has been passionately campaigning for greater awareness of Pension Credit, labelling it a “key payment for low-income State Pensioners” that could provide a substantial yearly increase of £3,900. With the cold months looming and the threat of many missing out on up to £300 for heating this winter, he highlighted that out of an estimated 2.2 million eligible pensioners, around 880,000 do not claim what they’re due, reports the Daily Record.
Pension Credit eligibility
Martin also shared his quick rule of thumb for Pension Credit eligibility.
Single pensioners
- Weekly income under £218 – you are likely to get it
- Weekly income under £235 – you may get it
Couples
- Combined weekly income under £333 – you are likely to get it
- Combined weekly income under £350 – you may get it
He clarified: “A couple means spouse, civil partner, or someone you live with, as a couple. You must both be of State Pension age. If your partner isn’t yet, you may still qualify for Winter Fuel Payment via Universal Credit.”
Moreover, Martin pointed out that even a minimal Pension Credit award could unlock additional support, including help with housing costs, Council Tax relief, free TV licences for those over 75, and the Warm Home Discount.
To read Martin’s full call to action on Pension Credit, visit MSE.
The upcoming changes to the Winter Fuel Payment will impact individuals over State Pension age across Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and expatriates.
Quickest way to check eligibility for Pension Credit
For a quick Pension Credit eligibility check, older individuals or their relatives can use the online calculator available on GOV. UK.
Pensioners can directly contact the Pension Credit helpline to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 – lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Here’s a brief overview of Pension Credit and its benefits:
Pension Credit is a benefit that provides additional funds to help with living costs for those over State Pension age and on a low income. It also grants access to a variety of other benefits.
The benefit increases income to a minimum of £218.15 per week for single pensioners and £332.95 for couples – more if an individual has a disability or caring responsibilities.
Additional money could be received by people with a severe disability, carers, and those responsible for a child or young person living with them.
Other help available
If you qualify for Pension Credit, you can also receive other assistance, such as:
- Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
- Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
- Council Tax discount
- Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over
- Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments
- Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme and Winter Fuel Payment
- A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house
Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit
In May 2019, the law changed so a ‘mixed age couple’ – a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it – are considered to be a ‘working age’ couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits.
This implies that they are unable to claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until both of them reach the State Pension age. Prior to this change by the DWP, a mixed-age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one partner reached the State Pension age.
How to use the Pension Credit calculator
To use the calculator on GOV.UK, you will need details of:
You’ll 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.
This includes:
- Your date of birth
- Your residential status
- Where in the UK you live
- Whether you are registered blind
- Which benefits you currently receive
- How much you receive each week for any benefits you get
- Whether someone is paid Carer’s Allowance to look after you
- How much you get each week from pensions – State Pension, private and work pensions
- Any employment earnings
- Any savings, investments or bonds you have
If you have a partner, you’ll need their details as well. A series of multiple-choice questions will be presented to you.
Once these questions have been answered, a summary screen displays your responses, allowing you to go back and modify any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then shows how much benefit you could receive each week.
All that’s left is to follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support.
There’s 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 for yourself or your family member to ensure you’re receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim.
Pension
You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner:
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are deferring your State Pension
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own more than one property
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are self employed
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have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit
How to make a claim
To make a claim, 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.
This means you could receive up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that period.
You will need:
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your National Insurance number
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information about your income, savings and investments
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your bank account details, if you’re applying by phone or by post
You will need your National Insurance number, information about your income, savings and investments, and your bank account details if you’re applying by phone or by post. If you’re backdating your claim, you’ll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start.
Apply online
You can use the online service if:
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you have already claimed your State Pension
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there are no children or young people included in your claim
To check your entitlement, phone 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.
