State pensioners have been told to apply for a £4,300 Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) income boost as “thousands continue to miss out”. Older people could be eligible for DWP benefits, including Pension Credit.
The DWP recently confirmed that almost 78 per cent of new Pension Credit claims are processed within 50 working days, meaning eligible pensioners applying now could receive their first payment and any arrears by mid-September.
To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit, individuals must be of state pension age with weekly income below £227.10 for singles or £346.60 for couples.
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Pensioners can check eligibility using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK or call the helpline on 0800 99 1234, open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Lisa Picardo, the chief business officer at PensinBee, said: “With around three in ten eligible pensioners still not applying according to the government, thousands continue to miss out on extra income that could make a real difference.
“Eligibility is often wider than assumed, particularly when considering how different forms of income such as savings interest or investment withdrawals are treated within the tax system.
“With Winter Fuel Payments now only available to those receiving Pension Credit, it’s more important than ever for pensioners to check if they qualify.
“Applying is straightforward and could mean thousands of pounds in additional support each year.” Money Saving Expert said: “It’s NOT automatic so you MUST claim – here’s how.
“You can apply via Gov.uk if you’ve already claimed your State Pension, otherwise phone the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234 (or the Northern Ireland Pension Centre on 0808 100 6165). You can backdate it for three months, so the quicker you check, the quicker you’ll benefit.”
And BBC and ITV star Martin Lewis said: “It’s a national tragedy that close to one million pensioner households, many of whom have been paying into the system for years, are missing out on an average income boost of around £3,900.”