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Are you eligible for Pension Credit and not receiving it?


A pensioner sat at her table at home looking at a bill

The Government is encouraging pensioners to check if they qualify for pension credit, and if so, to apply for it in order to receive the winter fuel payment.

If you get Pension Credit, you can also get other help, including:

Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single; or your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner.

You could get additional benefits depending on your circumstances.

You can apply for Pension Credit up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can apply any time after you reach State Pension age but your application can only be backdated by three months.

The government’s new pension credit awareness drive will help identify households not claiming the benefit, and encourage them to apply by 21 December. That is the final date for making a backdated claim for pension credit, in order to receive the winter fuel payment.

You can apply online, over the telephone, or by post.

Currently, only 63 per cent of people who are eligible nationwide for Pension Credit are receiving it. That’s nearly four in every 10 pensioners who are entitled to Pension Credit, because of their low income, aren’t claiming it.

To find out if you are eligible for Pension Credit, visit the Government’s website.


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