Here is an updated of the report from Gareth and myself made two years ago.
We’re advertising Pension Credit again in August in advance of the Pension Credit Week of Action – W/C 2 September 2024. If you blog or post on social media, the DWP has produced a series of posters , guides and videos that you can download from here.
Why do this again?
For many pensioners, everything seems to be going up. Energy bills are going up typically by £149 in October. This year pensioners will not have the £300 winter fuel allowance and will only get the Winter Fuel Payment if they qualify for it
The Government argues that for many pensioners, Winter Fuel Payments are not needed and that it no longer being a universal benefit is countered by targeting (aka means testing)
Winter Fuel Payments are still available to those who qualify for Pension Credit.
Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £218.15 a week for single pensioners or £332.95 for couples. It is a tax-free payment for those who:
- have reached Pension Credit qualifying age, which is State Pension age, and
- live in Great Britain
Someone may still get Pension Credit if they:
- have not paid National Insurance contributions
- have some savings or a small pension
- live with their grown-up family
- own their own home
You can use the Pension Credit calculator to find out how much Pension Credit someone could get – without giving any personal details.
The Door to more
Pension Credit also gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit could also qualify eligible applicants other support including Winter Fuel Payment, housing costs, help with Council Tax and a free TV licence for those aged 75 and over.
It is the “door to more”
Thanks to the Pension Credit backdating rules, it is possible to apply for Pension Credit and have the claim backdated by up to 3 months – so long as there is entitlement during that time. This means that the latest date to apply and still qualify for Winter Fuel Payment is 21st December 2024.
Here are the facts
For those who prefer to get their information by watching , there are a range of videos.
This one is aimed directly at the 850.000 who could claim but don’t
This video is for those who might have friends and families who could claim
and this one is for both those eligible and their friends and family
There are many other posters, factsheets and videos produced by the DWP that you can download and use.
My friend Guy Opperman has already kicked off his campaign
This is why #pensioncredit matters and 1 of many examples of DWP / Ministers trying to increase take up ⬇️ https://t.co/mCk3rLc2DQ
— Guy Opperman (@GuyOpperman) August 23, 2024
Energy bills predicted to rise to a new cap of 9%, or £150.
The #energypricecap affects 28 million households.
The big worry will be pensioners who can’t adapt to changes,& who will be doubly impacted by this and the loss of Novembers #WinterFuelPayment https://t.co/yWInberxkH— Guy Opperman (@GuyOpperman) August 23, 2024
I do wonder if the adverts about Pension Credit are well targeted. They seem to have been prompting checks for it by people who have just reached State Pension Age and have full state pensions. Hardly any of these will qualify.
The ones more likely to qualify are those who reached State Pension Age before the New State Pension came in, those who came to the UK later in life from poorer countries, those who have English as a second language (or no English at all), those who have no friends and family in the UK and those who don’t want to talk about their finances with others.
The adverts here seem directed at a different audience. I wonder if the DWP have any analysis of the people who could claim Pension Credit but aren’t.