The Department for Work & Pensions is encouraging those who are eligible for Pension Credit to make a claim before the 19th May 2023 in order to receive future cost of living support payments.
There are just nine days to go for people to claim Pension Credit and still qualify for the latest £300 payment. Provided a claim is made before 19th May, it can be backdated for up to three months so long as the applicant was also eligible to receive it during that time. Any payments received from this claim will be sent directly to claimants’ bank accounts.
Pension Credit is designed to help people over State Pension age and on a low income with daily living costs, though you do not need to be in receipt of State Pension to receive it and can be worth an average of £3,500 a year. On top of this, any amount of Pension Credit award can provide access to a wide range of other benefits – such as help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills – in addition to the extra cost of living payments, worth up to £900 this financial year. Please find a list of these potential other benefits entitlements below, along with links to more information on each of them.
Given the pressures households across the country have been under recently, the Government hopes this will be a much needed financial boost to those who are eligible and who need it most.
You can check if you or your relatives can claim for this extra support and get an estimate of the amount you may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator.
Applications for Pension Credit can be made on the ‘How to Claim’ page here Pension Credit: How to claim or over the phone by calling 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm). There is also the option to print out and fill in a paper application form, which can be found here Pension Credit claim form.
Other help you may be eligible for if you receive Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
- Cost of Living Payments
- Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
- a Council Tax discount
- a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over
- help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments, if you get a certain type of Pension Credit
- help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme
- a discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you’re moving house
