Are you entitled to unclaimed pension credit score?

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Pensioners urged to verify in the event that they may very well be eligible for Pension Credit score to safe the Winter Gasoline Fee, value as much as £300 per family.

• Claiming Pension Credit score also can passport pensioners to extra assist with housing prices, council tax, and heating payments
• Comes as Deputy Prime Minister and Work and Pensions Secretary write to Native Authorities to spice up uptake of pension credit score of their native areas

The Division for Work and Pensions is right this moment urging pensioners to verify their eligibility for Pension Credit score to be able to safe this yr’s Winter Gasoline Fee.

It comes as the federal government has needed to make some troublesome choices to repair the foundations of the economic system because of the dire state of the general public funds, with the Winter Gasoline Fee – value as much as £300 – set to be means-tested and delivered to these on Pension Credit score to make sure it’s focused in the direction of these in most want.

Round 1.3 million households in England and Wales will proceed to obtain Winter Gasoline Funds, however the authorities is decided to spice up take-up of Pension Credit score to make sure low-income pensioners proceed to get this assist.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Work and Pensions Secretary are writing to Native Authorities and can be part of forces with them, older peoples’ charities, and different teams this September for its annual Pension Credit score Week of Motion.

The federal government’s Pension Credit score consciousness drive will assist establish households not claiming the profit, and encourage pensioners to use by 21 December, the final date for making a backdated declare for Pension Credit score, to be able to obtain the Winter Gasoline Fee.

Whereas round 1.4 million pensioners are already receiving Pension Credit score there are as much as an estimated 880,000 households eligible for the help who’re but to say.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall stated:

The £22 billion black gap within the public funds now we have inherited has required us to take troublesome choices, however I’m decided to make sure low-income pensioners are supported.

That’s why I urge any pensioner, or their family members, to verify if they might get Pension Credit score.

This authorities stays fully dedicated to pensioners which is why we’re defending the earnings of over 12 million pensioners via the Triple Lock.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves stated:

The dire state of the general public funds we inherited from the earlier authorities means we’ve needed to make some very troublesome choices.

Our dedication to supporting pensioners stays, which is why we’re sustaining the triple lock.

We wish pensioners to get the help they’re entitled to. That’s why I urge all pensioners to verify whether or not they’re eligible for Pension Credit score.

Vitality Secretary Ed Miliband stated:

Everybody has paid the worth for over a decade of power insecurity, which is why we’re getting on with delivering clear energy by 2030, alongside our bold Heat Houses Plan.

It’s crucial that these eligible get the help they want this winter, which is why the federal government will do all the things it might to roll out Pension Credit score, ensuring as many individuals as attainable qualify for the as much as £300 Winter Gasoline Fee.

In the course of the Week of Motion, set to start in September, the DWP and its companions might be tackling a few of the myths which will cease folks making use of, corresponding to how having financial savings, a pension or proudly owning a house aren’t essentially limitations to receiving Pension Credit score.

This work builds on final yr’s Invitation to say pilots, the place letters and leaflets had been focused at households already in receipt of Housing Profit, however not claiming Pension Credit score in ten native authorities.

This work comes alongside wider plans to make sure financial stability for pensioners by defending the Triple Lock, enhancing power safety and conserving power payments low via the Heat Houses Plan and slicing NHS ready lists.

Over the subsequent 5 years over 12 million pensioners will see their State Pension improve by 1000’s of kilos because of the dedication to the Triple Lock.

And the Heat Houses Plan which is able to help funding in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading tens of millions of houses over this Parliament. This authorities’s long-term plan will shield billpayers completely and cut back gasoline poverty.

Pensioners whose weekly earnings is beneath £218.15 for a single individual or £332.95 for a pair ought to verify to see in the event that they may very well be eligible. It’s value on common £3,900 a yr and also can open doorways to additional monetary assist, corresponding to housing prices, council tax, and heating payments, and the Winter Gasoline Fee value as much as £300.

And, pensioners who personal their very own residence or have financial savings or a non-public pension earnings might nonetheless be eligible – with DWP’s on-line calculator capable of work out how a lot a person might get.

Additional Data

• Functions for Pension Credit score may be made:
  • On the Tips on how to Declare web page
  • Over the telephone by calling 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm)
  • By printing out and filling in a paper utility kind
  • For extra data go to the Pension Credit score GOV.UK web page.
• The Winter Gasoline Fee is value £300 for households with somebody aged 80 or over. Households with somebody aged 66-79 will obtain £200.
• We’ll work with Native Authorities to deliver collectively the administration of Pension Credit score and Housing Profit as quickly as operationally attainable.
• Individuals who have reached State Pension age earlier than September 23, 2024 and are in receipt of Pension Credit score, Earnings Assist, Earnings primarily based JSA, Earnings associated ESA and Common Credit score, might be entitled to a Winter Gasoline Fee – topic to eligibility circumstances.
• The laws to means-test the Winter Gasoline Fee might be laid on 22 August 2024. The qualifying week in 2024 for Winter Gasoline Funds might be from 16 to 22 September.
• 21 December is the final date for making a backdated declare for Pension Credit score, assuming the claimant met the Pension Credit score entitlement circumstances all through the earlier three months.
• Anybody who’s entitled to Pension Credit score for not less than in the future of the Winter Gasoline Fee qualifying week could have computerized entitlement to Winter Gasoline Fee. There are some exceptions that are detailed on GOV.UK: Winter Gasoline Fee: Eligibility – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Folks wouldn’t have to do something additional to backdate their declare. In the event that they make their utility on-line, they’ll robotically be requested in the event that they want to backdate it. In the event that they make their utility over the telephone the advisor will discuss them via this.
• Round 1.3 million households in England and Wales will proceed to obtain Winter Gasoline Funds as a result of another pensioner households being eligible and anticipated additional Pension Credit score take up as a result of this reform.

Pension Credit score recipients by area (as of February 2024):