Richard met the Minister for Pensions, Laura Trott MP today to promote Pension Credit and encourage its take-up.
Pension Credit provides a vital income ‘top up’ for some of the most vulnerable pensioners – worth more than £3,500 on average. Although take-up is at the highest level since 2010 and around 1.4 million pensioners currently receive it, there are still too many missing out.
Pension Credit gives extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Full details, including eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found here: Pension Credit: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or by calling free on 0800 99 1234. There is also more information in this video - https://youtu.be/Hbr7xTt3zkI
From November, more than 11.6 million pensioners across the United Kingdom started to receive payments of up to £600 to help with their energy bills this winter. Winter Fuel Payments – boosted this year by an additional Pensioner Cost of Living payment of £300 for each household– will land in bank accounts, the vast majority automatically.
Earlier this year, the Government announced a Cost of Living payment of £650 for people on means tested benefits to help with energy bills, payable in two instalments. It is not too late to qualify for the second Cost of Living Payment of £324. This is because a claim for Pension Credit can be backdated for up to three months, provided the entitlement conditions are met throughout that time. To ensure that a successful backdated claim falls within the qualifying period for the second Cost of Living payment, people who might be eligible are urged to claim Pension Credit as soon as possible, but by no later than 18 December.
After his meeting with the Minister, Richard encouraged pensioners who might be eligible for Pension Credit to apply, saying:
"Pension Credit provides vital support for many people but it is clear from my meeting with the Minister that not everybody who is eligible is receiving it. Even a small award of Pension Credit can open up additional support, such as help with housing costs, council tax, heating bills, a free over-75s TV licence and most importantly right now the additional cost of living payment. If you think you might be eligible, please apply and if you know somebody who might be eligible, please pass on these details to them, so we can make sure that all of those who are eligible receive Pension Credit and any other help that is due to them."
