The DWP is sending out an important letter to 120,000 pensioners who could be missing out on a £4,000 boost to their yearly income. Officials are writing letters to pensioners on Housing Benefit, as they may also be entitled to Pension Credit, with the average claim for this benefit worth £4,000 a year.
People on Pension Credit have access to a host of other Government support, including the Winter Fuel Payment, which is worth £200 or £300 this winter.
Pensions minister Emma Reynolds said in response to a question in Parliament: “Building on last year’s ‘Invitation to Claim’ trial, the Department [DWP] will be directly contacting approximately 120,000 pensioner households who are in receipt of Housing Benefit and who may also be eligible for, but not currently claiming, Pension Credit. We can identify and target these households using DWP’s Housing Benefit data.”
The update came after a query from independent MP, Rebecca Long-Bailey, about what steps are being taken to encourage people to apply for Pension Credit. The benefit is massively underclaimed, with some 780,000 people believed to be missing out on the support despite a recent drive to raise awareness.
Ms Reynolds outlined current efforts to get people to apply. She said: “We are also asking local authorities to support our Pension Credit campaign – the Secretary of State and the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all local authorities in August. Many already undertake their own initiatives to identify eligible households and promote take-up; and over 160 local authorities have responded positively to our ‘call for action’.”
Pension Credit provides a weekly income top up, increasing your income to £218.15 for single claimants and up to £332.95 for couples. You may be entitled to extra payments depending on your situation, such as if you care for another adult or if you have savings.
The benefit is open to people of state pension age but you do not have to be claiming your state pension to apply. Claiming the support opens up access to other help such as council tax discounts and a free TV licence for claimants over 75.
You can work out if you are entitled to any benefits using a calculator tool, such as the one on the Turn2us website.
