Claim Before Sunday 18th December
Low-income pensioners are being urged to act quickly and claim for Pension Credit before this Sunday, in order to avoid losing out on an extra £324 cost-of-living payment.
Age Scotland, the national charity for older people, can help identify if someone is eligible for Pension Credit and offer advice on applying – with advisers able to carry out a full benefits check.
The charity can be contacted via their helpline on 0800 12 44 222. Alternatively, eligibility can be checked online at www.age.scot/benefitscalculator.
Pension Credit provides pensioners on a low income with extra money and other helpful support. It can top up a pensioner’s weekly income to £182.60 if a single claimant, and to £278.70 if making a joint claim with a partner. An extra amount for some carers is worth up to £38.85 a week.
Receipt of Pension Credit also opens up a range of additional support and payments:
- A one-off payment of £150 (previously £140) through the Warm Home Discount Scheme to help with the cost of energy this winter
- A £50 payment in February to help with heating costs
- Help with Council Tax and rent
- Reduced water bills
- Free NHS dental treatment and help towards the cost of glasses and travel to hospital
- A free TV licence (if over-75)
Anyone who makes a successful Pension Credit application to the Department for Work and Pensions before 18th December 2022 will also be entitled to a £324 lump sum financial support payment. 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.
– Graeme
I would strongly encourage any older person in Angus uncertain if they are eligibile for Pension Credit to check and claim this if so.
The deadline is this Sunday 18th December, so there is still time to secure the additional £324.
Claimants benefit not only from the payment itself but from the various other forms of support to which Pension Credit provides access, and yet millions of pounds of social security support goes unclaimed in Scotland each year.
In the midst of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, with more older people sadly struggling, ensuring you are receiving all that you are entitled to has never been more important.
– Age Scotland interim chief executive, Michelle Supple
Pension Credit is not only an essential benefit, but it opens the door to much more additional support including help with energy bills in the winter, a free TV licence for over-75s, help with rent and council tax reduction, free dental care and reduced water bills.
We are urging all pensioners on a low income to act quickly and start the application process or call our helpline 0800 12 44 222 for advice. We don’t want to see anyone miss out on extra cost of living support, especially with Christmas around the corner.
Applications for Pension Credit can be made by calling the Department for Work and Pensions on 0800 99 1234, or online at www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim.
