New way for older people to claim annual DWP income boost of more than £3,000

The Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) not too long ago confirmed that new claims for Pension Credit score, a profit particularly geared toward offering extra assist for older folks on a low earnings who've reached the official age of retirement, are taking round six weeks to course of. The Division additionally stated further sources have been pulled in to fulfill utility demand, which is at its highest peak following a nationwide marketing campaign in early summer time to lift consciousness concerning the profit.

This has been ongoing because the consciousness occasion in June, with common nudges on social media encouraging relations to test if an older relative is eligible, particularly if they're unable to take action themselves. Whereas six weeks might seem to be a very long time to attend for a choice letter, profitable claims are backdated to the beginning of the appliance to make sure no one is lacking out.

To assist much more folks aged over 66 entry assist value round £3,300 on common every year, DWP has launched a brand new interactive Pension Credit score declare kind which could be accomplished on-line, downloaded and posted to the Pension Service.

This new means of constructing a declare could possibly be helpful for many who can't declare the profit on-line or over the cellphone as progress on the 24-page utility kind could be saved and accomplished at a later time - discover out extra about this right here.

A profitable declare for Pension Credit score acts as a ‘passport’ to different monetary assist together with Council Tax reductions, assist with housing and mortgage funds, discounted NHS therapies and free TV Licences for the over-75s.

The newest figures launched by the DWP counsel that £1.7 billion is being left unclaimed by round 850,000 State Pensioners throughout the UK.

One of many quickest methods to seek out out if you're eligible, and the way a lot further you can probably be paid each week, is to make use of the Pension Credit score calculator on the GOV.UK web site, right here.

Under is all the things it's worthwhile to learn about Pension Credit score, whether or not it is for you or somebody you already know.

What's Pension Credit score?

Pension Credit score at present provides 1.5 million folks throughout the UK more money to assist with dwelling prices if they're over State Pension age and on a low earnings.

Some older folks assume as a result of they've financial savings or personal their residence they might not be eligible for any Pension Credit score, however the DWP stated lots of of hundreds could possibly be lacking out on the additional cash and reductions it gives each month.

Different assist in case you get Pension Credit score

For those who qualify for Pension Credit score it's also possible to get different assist, corresponding to:

Housing Profit in case you lease the property you reside in
Assist for Mortgage Curiosity in case you personal the property you reside in
Council Tax low cost
Free TV licence if you're aged 75 or over
Assist with NHS dental remedy, glasses and transport prices for hospital appointments
Assist along with your heating prices by means of the Heat Dwelling Low cost Scheme
A reduction on the Royal Mail redirection service if you're shifting home

Blended aged older couples and Pension Credit score

In Might 2019, the legislation modified so that a ‘blended age couple’ - a pair the place one companion is of State Pension age and the opposite is below it - are thought-about to be a ‘working age’ couple when checking entitlement to means-tested advantages.

This implies they can't declare Pension Credit score or pension age Housing Profit till they're each State Pension age.

Earlier than this DWP change, a blended age couple could possibly be eligible to say the extra beneficiant State Pension age advantages when simply one in all them reached State Pension age.

Easy methods to use the Pension Credit score calculator

To make use of the calculator, you have to particulars of:

earnings, advantages and pensions
financial savings and investments

You’ll want the identical particulars on your companion when you have one.

You can be offered by a sequence of questions with a number of alternative reply choices.

This contains:

Your date of start
Your residential standing
The place within the UK you reside
Whether or not you might be registered blind
Which advantages you at present obtain
How a lot you obtain every week for any advantages you get
Whether or not somebody is paid Carer’s Allowance to take care of you
How a lot you get every week from pensions - State Pension, personal and work pensions
Any employment earnings
Any financial savings, investments or bonds you could have

An older man and woman are looking at a computer screen — A brand new utility for Pension Credit score could possibly be processed in simply six weeks and is backdated to the beginning of the declare. (Picture: Getty)

After you have answered these questions, a abstract display screen reveals your responses, permitting you to return and alter any solutions earlier than submitting.

The Pension Credit score calculator then shows how a lot profit you can obtain every week.

All you must do then is comply with the hyperlink to the appliance web page to seek out out precisely what you'll get from the DWP, together with entry to different monetary assist.

There’s additionally an choice to print off the solutions you give utilizing the calculator software that will help you full the appliance kind faster with out having to look out the identical particulars once more.

Strive the Pension Credit score Calculator for your self or member of the family to be sure to’re receiving all of the monetary assist you might be entitled to say.

Who can't use the Pension Credit score calculator?

You can't use the calculator in case you or your companion:

are deferring your State Pension
personal a couple of property
are self employed
have housing prices (corresponding to service fees or Crown Tenant lease) that are neither mortgage repayments nor lease lined by Housing Profit

Easy methods to make a declare

You can begin your utility as much as 4 months earlier than you attain State Pension age.

You possibly can declare any time after you attain State Pension age however your declare can solely be backdated for 3 months.

This implies you'll be able to stand up to 3 months of Pension Credit score in your first cost in case you have been eligible throughout that point.

You will want:

your Nationwide Insurance coverage quantity
details about your earnings, financial savings and investments
your checking account particulars, in case you’re making use of by cellphone or by submit

For those who’re backdating your declare, you’ll want particulars of your earnings, financial savings and investments on the date you need your declare to start out.

Apply on-line

You should use the web service if:

you could have already claimed your State Pension
there are not any kids or younger folks included in your declare

To test your entitlement, cellphone the Pension Credit score helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the GOV.UK Pension Credit score calculator right here to learn how a lot you can get.

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