Pension Credit – two thousand people to receive letters inviting them to apply

The DWP’s trial to encourage low-income pensioners to apply for Pension Credit.

Nearly 1.4 million pensioners across Great Britain receive Pension Credit, but many aren’t claiming this extra financial help. So, two thousand people in Great Britain will receive letters inviting them to apply for Pension Credit as part of a new trial launched on 17 July.

The letters and leaflets will be targeted at households in ten local authorities that are already in receipt of Housing Benefit, but not claiming Pension Credit.

Launched by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the “Invitation to Claim” trial targets those likely to be eligible for Pension Credit – individuals above State Pension Age and in receipt of Housing Benefit.

Pension Credit can be worth over £3,500 per year on average for people over State Pension age and on a low income – and it can lead to further support including extra Cost of Living payments later this year.

The ten local areas selected for the trial have been selected to ensure a representative sample of urban, rural, regional and national areas. Letters and “call to action” leaflets will be sent out in two waves, beginning this week, with a follow up letter to be sent out in August. The ten local authorities chosen for the “Invitation to Claim” trial are:

  • Eastbourne
  • Teignbridge
  • Pendle
  • Charnwood
  • Vale of White Horse
  • Redcar and Cleveland
  • Craven
  • Harrow
  • Powys
  • West Lothian

Pension Credit is designed to help with daily living costs for people over State Pension age and on a low income, although they do not need to be in receipt of State Pension to receive it.

The benefit tops up a person’s income to a minimum of £201.05 per week for single pensioners and to £306.85 for couples – or more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities. For more information, please see Pension Credit.

Even a small Pension Credit award can open doors to other benefits – including help with housing costs, council tax, heating bills, as well as up to £600 in extra Cost of Living payments later this year too.

Pension Credit can be claimed by phone and online, ensuring that older people can apply safely and easily, wherever they are. The online Pension Credit calculator is also on hand to help pensioners check if they’re likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive.

Applications for Pension Credit can be made:

For more information please visit the Pension Credit GOV.UK page. For extra resources for stakeholders and businesses, the department has also produced a Stakeholder Toolkit. Pensioners can check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator.

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