Latest news with #NewStatePension
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
DWP breaks down Pension Credit barriers to help people claim £4,300 boost
A successful new claim for Pension Credit can unlock access to help with housing costs and Council Tax bills. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? To help more people over State Pension age access additional financial support over the coming months, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is continuing its efforts to increase take-up of an income-related benefit worth over £4,300 this year. More than 700,000 older people are estimated to be entitled to Pension Credit, but not claiming it as they wrongly believe that because they have savings or own their own home they would not be eligible for the income top-up. Pension Credit can provide a top-up for single people on the New State Pension who have a total weekly income below £227.10, or couples with a combined weekly income of less than £346.60. There are currently 1.4 million people receiving additional financial support through Pension Credit, including over 125,000 living in Scotland. The Scottish and UK Governments have announced that all pensioners born before September 22, 1959 with an income below £35,000 will receive winter heating help this year. Pension Age Winter Fuel Payments will be issued to Scots on November 30. Pensioner households aged between 66 and 79 will receive £203.40, while those aged 80 and over will be paid £305.10. Winter Fuel Payments will be issued to pensioners in England Wales. Pensioner households aged between 66 and 79 will receive £200, while those aged 80 and over will be paid £300. Even though winter energy bill help will be issued to the majority of pensioners this year, there are still benefits to claiming Pension Credit - access to the £150 Warm Home Discount Scheme, help with housing costs, Council Tax discounts and free TV licences for the over-75s. Barriers to claiming Pension Credit The DWP aims to break down barriers to claiming and busts some of the most common myths people may have to encourage them to think again about applying. Older people may wrongly think they are not eligible because they: have savings own their own home may be working may be getting a small occupational pension may have been turned down in the past Other factors may be that they: do not want to be seen as needing to claim feel that they're able to manage do not think it's worth applying - as the amount they get will be very small do not recognise themselves as a Pension Credit claimant have not got around to it think it's a complex and confusing subject already get other help and do not want to mess up the benefits they are getting Eight Pension Credit myths busted Having listed some of the main reasons people of State Pension age may be put off from claiming Pension Credit, the DWP has also busted eight common myths about the benefit. They do not think they will be eligible for Pension Credit False - some 1.4 million older people across Great Britain, including over 125,000 living in Scotland currently receive the extra financial support. They would get so little that it's not worth claiming False - DWP says the average Pension Credit payment is actually over £75 per week - that's well over an extra £3,900 per year. Plus, getting Pension Credit can provide a passport to help with things like rent, Council Tax, Winter Fuel Payment, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (Scotland only), Winter Heating Payment (Scotland only), Cold Weather Payments (not Scotland) and a free TV licence for people aged 75 and over. They have savings, so will not qualify False - DWP explains that people can have savings or another pension and still get extra money. Unlike other income related benefits like Universal Credit, there is no capital cut-off limit and for Pension Credit savings of under £10,000 are ignored. They own their own home, so will not qualify False - DWP explains that homeowners can get Pension Credit too and that almost half of the people who get Pension Credit own their own home. They are not eligible for Pension Credit - it's for 'old' people False - People can claim as soon as they reach the qualifying age, which is now State Pension age - 66 for both men and women. They cannot get a State Pension, so they will not be eligible False - DWP said that they may be entitled to Pension Credit - even if they're not entitled to a State Pension. They have been turned down for Pension Credit before, so it's not worth applying again False - DWP said that personal circumstances could have changed and their income or capital may have changed as a result. The first £10,000 of savings will be ignored when working out if someone can get Pension Credit. It is too complicated and claiming is not worth the effort False - DWP has simplified the process and people can claim with one free phone call to the Pension Credit claim line. However, there are other ways to claim such as a paper claim form, which can be downloaded from the website or an online claim can be made - find out more here. Pension Credit Help to claim Quickest way to check eligibility for Pension Credit Older people, or friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on here. Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 - lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Expert help and advice is also available from: Independent Age Income Max Citizens Advice Age UK Below is an overview of the benefit including who should check eligibility, how to go about it, how much you could get and where to get help filling in the form. Who can claim Pension Credit? There are two types of Pension Credit - Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit, you must be State Pension age (66). Your weekly income will need to be less than the minimum amount the UK Government says you need to live on. This is £227.10 for a single person and £346.60 for a couple - this amount could be higher if you're disabled, a carer or have certain housing costs. You can only get Savings Credit if: you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, or you have a partner who reached State Pension age before this date and was already receiving it you have qualifying income of at least £198.27 a week for a single person and £314.34 a week for a couple How much could you receive from DWP? Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to: £227.10 for a single person £346.60 for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting) You might be able to get more than this if you're disabled or a carer, or you have certain housing costs. Savings Credit can give you up to: £17.30 a week for a single person £19.36 a week for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting). The exact amount you'll get depends on your income and savings. Your income includes assumed income from savings and capital over £10,000. Other help if you get Pension Credit If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as: Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in Council Tax discount Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme, Winter Fuel Payments or Pension Age Winter Heating Payment A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit In May 2019, the law changed so a 'mixed age couple' - a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it - are considered to be a 'working age' couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits. This means they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age. How to use the Pension Credit calculator To use the calculator on you will need details of: earnings, benefits and pensions savings and investments You'll need the same details for your partner if you have one. You will be presented by a series of questions with multiple choice answer options. This includes: Your date of birth Your residential status Where in the UK you live Whether you are registered blind Which benefits you currently receive How much you receive each week for any benefits you get Whether someone is paid Carer's Allowance to look after you How much you get each week from pensions - State Pension, private and work pensions Any employment earnings Any savings, investments or bonds you have Once you have answered these questions, a summary screen shows your responses, allowing you to go back and change any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then displays how much benefit you could receive each week. All you have to do then is follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support. There's also an option to print off the answers you give using the calculator tool to help you complete the application form quicker without having to look out the same details again. Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or your family member to make sure you're receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim. Who cannot use the Pension Credit calculator? You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner: are deferring your State Pension own more than one property are self employed have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit How to make a claim You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can claim any time after you reach State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for three months. This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time. You will need: your National Insurance number information about your income, savings and investments your bank account details, if you're applying by phone or by post If you're backdating your claim, you'll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start. Apply online You can use the online service if: you have already claimed your State Pension there are no children or young people included in your claim Article continues below To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you could get.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
National Insurance must-knows to ensure you get full New State Pension payments in retirement
A new survey found over half of respondents admitted they had no idea of the current value of State Pension. Income tax rises for Scots in April - how the changes affect you New research from Standard Life's Retirement Voice report suggests there is a widespread lack of awareness around the State Pension, with many adults unsure of how much they will be paid and when they will start receiving it. The full New State Pension is worth almost £12,000 a year, however, half of UK adults (50%) are unaware of how much they will receive from their State Pension in later life, including 31 per cent of those nearing retirement, aged 55-64. Meanwhile, nearly a third of UK adults (32%) and 12 per cent of 55 to 64-year-olds don't understand what the State Pension age means to them, or their future. Standard Life's research, conducted among 6,000 UK adults, found a substantial lack of understanding regarding other areas of the State Pension, including a lack of awareness that National Insurance Contributions determine the amount of State Pension someone receives in retirement. Over half of those surveyed admitted they had no idea of the current value of State Pension payments (51%) and were also unaware of how to calculate their State Pension entitlement (52%). Meanwhile, over a third (34%) revealed they didn't know that their National Insurance contributions determine the level of entitlement and the amount of money they'll receive from the State in retirement. Commenting on the findings, Dean Butler, Managing Director for Retail Direct at Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, said: 'With the State Pension rising to £11,973 a year for the 2025/26 tax year, it remains a crucial part of many people's retirement income. But despite its importance, there's still a lot of confusion around how it works and how much people might get. 'Knowing when you'll start receiving your State Pension and how much you're likely to get is an important part of planning for retirement. It helps you work out how much extra you need to save, when you could afford to retire, and what your overall financial picture will look like.' He added that understanding how your National Insurance contributions impact your retirement is vital, so you're not caught out when the time comes. Mr Butler continued: 'With the Personal Allowance frozen at £12,570 until 2028, there's a good chance that people will pay tax on the State Pension alone from 2026 or 2027. The UK Government might change the rules to avoid this, but it's good to be aware of tax when planning for retirement.' Mr Butler answers key questions about the State Pension to help more people understand the retirement income. What is the State Pension? The State Pension is a regular payment made to you by the UK Government every four weeks when you reach State Pension age, which is currently 66. However, it's important to be aware that payments, which are issued by the DWP, can be made every week or every fortnight. Not everyone is entitled to the full State Pension, and the amount you receive might not be enough for you to live on. Therefore, it's important to factor your State Pension into your retirement planning and ensure you have a good idea of how much it might be worth, when you can claim it and how it will stack up with your other retirement savings. The easiest way to check how much you will be due is to use the State Pension forecasting tool on here. How much is the State Pension worth? The full New State Pension is currently worth £230.25 per week, however, the amount you get is dependent on how many 'qualifying' years of National Insurance payments you have. You'll usually need at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any State Pension and you'll need around 35 qualifying years to get the full New State Pension if you do not have a National Insurance record before April 6, 2016. What is my State Pension age? Dean explains: 'Your earliest age you can start receiving State Pension is known as your State Pension age. You can find this out easily on the UK Government's website. Men born before 6 April 1951 and women born before 6 April 1953 can claim the basic state pension now, but if you were born on or after these dates, you'll be eligible for the New State Pension when you reach State Pension age. 'This age is regularly reviewed to account for factors such as affordability and life expectancy - it is currently 66 but will rise to 67 by 2028.' How does the State Pension Triple Lock work? Dean explained: 'The purpose of the Triple Lock is to ensure that the State Pension doesn't lose value over time. It guarantees that, each year, the State Pension will rise by the highest of three measures: inflation in the September of the previous year (as measured by Consumer Prices Index); the average increase in total wages across the UK for May to June of the previous year; or 2.5%.' Will the State Pension be enough to fund my retirement? Dean said: 'The reality is there's a significant gap between what you get from the State Pension and what you may actually need or want in retirement. 'The State Pension only covers a very basic lifestyle - less than is needed for a minimum standard of living in retirement, according to the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association - and, because it only starts in your late 60s, it won't help to support you if you want to retire earlier. 'It should therefore only form part of your overall retirement plan and, so, it's important to fully understand how much you might need to save into your personal or workplace pension plan to potentially be able to afford the retirement you want. A pension calculator can help you see if you're on track.' State Pension payments 2025/26 Full New State Pension Weekly payment: £230.25 Four-weekly payment: £921 Annual amount: £11,973 Full Basic State Pension Weekly payment: £176.45 Four-weekly payment: £705.80 Annual amount: £9,175 Future State Pension increases The Labour Government has pledged to honour the Triple Lock or the duration of its term and the latest predictions show the following projected annual increases: 2025/26 - 4.1%, the forecast was 4% 2026/27 - 2.5% 2027/28 - 2.5% 2028/29 - 2.5% 2029/30 - 2.5% State Pension and tax The Personal Allowance will remain frozen at £12,570 over the 2025/26 financial year. The most important thing to be aware of is that people whose sole income is the State Pension will not pay income tax. However, anyone with additional income on top of their State Pension may need to pay tax. This is paid a year in arrears, so if the 2025/26 financial year's uplift takes you over the threshold, you will not receive a tax bill from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) until July 2026.
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Simple ways older people can top-up their income or reduce outgoings this summer
Checklist of benefits and discounts only available for people over State Pension age. Some 13 million people have now reached State Pension age across Great Britain, including over 1.1m living in Scotland. Many of those in retirement rely on the contributory benefit as their main source of income which now provides essential financial support of up to £921 every four weeks for 4.1m people in receipt of the New State Pension. Some 8.8m retirees are receiving up to £705.80 every pay period through the Basic State Pension. However, many pensioners may not be aware of more than a dozen ways they might be able to boost their current income over the summer, including checking for unclaimed benefits and looking at discounts or reductions on their Council Tax. The biggest income boost comes through Pension Credit, which is worth £4,300 a year on average and currently takes around 50 working days to process, which would see first payments for successful claimants arrive before the end of August. To make it easier for people to understand and claim these benefits, discounts or reductions, the MoneyHelper website has compiled a comprehensive list along with quick eligibility checks to ensure older people are accessing essential support in later life. The easiest way to check eligibility for any benefit, discount or reduction is to use an online benefits calculator - find out more about these here. If you have an older family member or friends who do not have access to the internet, or is not familiar with using a computer, give them a hand to ensure they are not missing out on additional financial support in 2025. Benefits for people over State Pension age Benefits and discounts available in retirement include: State Pension Pension Credit Help with Council Tax Help with heating costs - eligibility for some may require a relevant qualifying means-tested benefit Health benefits - Attendance Allowance, Pension Age Disability Payment Travel and TV benefits Benefits for war widows and widowers State Pension The State Pension gives you a regular taxable income for the rest of your life as soon as you reach State Pension age and make a claim for it. Some people choose to defer this while they continue to work. It's not means-tested, but the amount you get depends on how many qualifying years of National Insurance Contributions or credits you've built up. You need at least 10 years' for any State Pension payment and around 35 for the maximum amount - this may be more for people who were 'contracted out', find out more here. State Pension weekly payment rates 2025/26 Full New State Pension: £230.25 Full Basic State Pension (Category A or B): £176.45 Pension Credit Pension Credit currently gives 1.4m people across the UK - including over 125,000 in Scotland - extra money to help with living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income. It is a 'passport' benefit providing on average around £4,300 each year in financial support, acting as a 'gateway' to Council Tax discounts, help with housing costs and NHS discounts along with free TV Licences for the over-75s. Try the Pension Credit Calculator on for yourself or a family member to make sure you're receiving all the financial support you are entitled to. You can also call the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234. Help with Council Tax Whether you own your home or rent, you could be eligible for support from your local authority to help you pay your Council Tax. Contact your local council to ask about support with Council Tax - find out more here. Insulation and heating schemes There are a number of schemes that install insulation and heating improvements to make your home more energy efficient. You're likely to be eligible if your home is poorly insulated or doesn't have a working central heating system, and if you receive any of a range of income-related benefits including Pension Credit. Find out more from Home Energy Scotland here or by calling 0808 808 2282. Health benefits Everyone in Scotland is entitled to free prescriptions. Find out more about free dental treatment and refunds for travel to hospital appointments here. Disability and care benefits A number of benefits are available to people who have disabilities, long-term health conditions or specific care needs. These benefits include: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - if you're under State Pension age, if you reached State Pension age while claiming PIP this will continue Adult Disability Payment - replacing PIP for people living in Scotland Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - you will need to have been already claiming this before you reached State Pension age Attendance Allowance - if you're over State Pension age and have not claimed DLA or PIP Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) - a new benefit that has now replaced all new claims for Attendance Allowance in Scotland. Find out more here. We have dedicated sections on the Daily Record website for each of these benefits: Travel concessions If you are over 60 or disabled find out about travel concessions on the Transport Scotland website here. Free passport If you were born on or before September 2, 1929, and are a British national, you could be eligible for a free passport. Find out more and how to apply on the website here. Free / Discounted TV Licence You now have to pay for your TV licence unless you are getting Pension Credit. People over State Pension age may be able to get the TV Licence for half price if they are registered as severely sight-impaired or blind. Check out the MoneyHelper Advice Service TV licence guide here to find out if you're eligible. Benefits for war widows and widowers If your husband, wife or civil partner died or were injured or became ill as a result of their service in Her Majesty's (HM) Armed Forces, or during a time of war before April 6, 2005, you might be entitled to a War Widow's or Widower's Pension. If they died or sustained an injury or illness due to serving in a conflict after April 6, 2005, you might be entitled to compensation through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. here. Medical costs for war pensioners If you need medical treatment because you were disabled while serving in the Armed Forces, you could get help towards your medical costs for your accepted disability. War Disablement Pension If you were injured or disabled while serving in the Armed Forces before April 6, 2005, you can get extra help towards your pension. Find out more about War Disablement Pension on the website here . Age Scotland also have a full list of benefits, discounts and support older people may be entitled to claim, find out more on their website here.
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
New State Pension age changes set to delay retirement payments for millions of people
The State Pension age is set to rise from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028 with a further rise planned to 68. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? The State Pension age is set to start rising from 66 to 67 next year, with the increase due to be completed for all men and women across the UK by 2028. The planned change to the official age of retirement has been in legislation since 2014 with a further rise from 67 to 68 set to be implemented between 2044 and 2046. The State Pension age review, published in 2023, considered the impact of bringing the official age of retirement forward to 2041-2043, which had been a hot topic during the Rishi Sunak administration due to more people living longer, which essentially puts pressure on the UK Government to continue supporting the State Pension - in its current format. The then Conservative government had planned to review the State Pension age rising to 68 within two years of the general election, but those plans were effectively kicked into the long grass when Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour party came into power on July 4, 2024. But it could be something the UK Government looks at, and soon, as it must follow the principle of giving people 10 years notice of any changes to the State Pension age - or potentially end up with another situation which has affected an estimated 3.6 million women born in the 1950s. Phoenix Insights has warned that around three million people would see a delay to their retirement plans if the State Pension age increase to 68 is brought forward. The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there are now 13 million people claiming the State Pension, including over 1.1m in Scotland. Some 34 per cent are on the New State Pension (post-April 2016) while 66 per cent are receiving the Basic (or Old) State Pension (pre-April 2016). People on the full New State Pension receive £230.25 per week and as the payment is typically made every four weeks this amounts to £921. Annual payments will be worth £11,973 over the 2025/26 financial year. However, it's important to be aware that not all of the 4.1m people on the New State Pension receive the full amount as it is linked to National Insurance Contributions. People need to pay at least 10 years' worth of National Insurance Contributions (NICs) to be entitled to any State Pension and around 35 years for the full rate, which can be more if someone has been 'contracted out'. Someone on the full Basic State Pension receives weekly payments of £176.45, or £705.80 every four-week payment period. Annual payments will be worth £9,175.40 over the 2025/26 financial year. Patrick Thomson, Head of Research Analysis and Policy at Phoenix Insights, said: 'The State Pension remains at a critical juncture with questions remaining over its long-term affordability and the future of the Triple Lock. Projections suggests there will be five million more State Pensioners in the UK by 2070 compared to just one million more people of working-age.' Four key findings about the State Pension Phoenix Insights found that: Around a fifth (18%) of adults say they could live on the state pension alone in retirement A third (35%) of the pre-State Pension age group (60-65yrs) have zero private pension saving 45% of adults expect to work beyond their State Pension age to plug gaps in savings 3 million people would see a delay in State Pension payments if the retirement age increase to 68 is brought forward to 2041-2043 Mr Thomson continued: 'Accelerating the State Pension age could mitigate some of the cost challenge, but recent life expectancy projections are less optimistic making policy change potentially more difficult. Bringing forward the State Pension age increase to age 68 to the early 2040s would impact nearly three million people and not everyone will be able to work to a later State Pension age. 'We are expecting another State Pension age review in this parliament which should offer more clarity on the timetable of the future increase to age 68.' He added: 'It's important that any future change to the State Pension is combined with policy interventions to support greater retirement adequacy, including enabling people to remain in work later in life and boosting pension saving through auto-enrolment.' Future State Pension increases The Labour Government has pledged to honour the Triple Lock or the duration of its term and the latest predictions show the following projected annual increases: 2025/26 - 4.1% (the forecast was 4%) 2026/27 - 2.5% 2027/28 - 2.5% 2028/29 - 2.5% 2029/30 - 2.5%
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Older people on a low income could boost State Pension payments before end of summer
Around 700,000 pensioners are eligible for a £4,300 annual top-up, but not claiming it. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed that nearly 78 per cent of all new claims for Pension Credit are processed - from initial application to award decision letter - within the target timeframe of 50 working days. This means older people on a low income making a new claim this month, especially those living on their own, could receive their first payment and any arrears by the end of August. The full New State Pension is now worth £230.25 per week and the full Basic State Pension is worth £176.45, however, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in 2021, some 3.3 million people aged 65 years and over were living alone in England and Wales, with around 337,000 single pensioner households recorded in Scotland. It's crucial for all older people - single, married or cohabiting - to make sure they are claiming all the additional financial support they are entitled to this year to help boost their income and offset the ongoing impact of the cost of living. Winter Fuel Payment U-turn On Monday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced more than 9 million pensioners in England and Wales will automatically receive this year's Winter Fuel Payment following a U-turn by the UK Government on its decision to restrict the annual heating allowance to pensioners in receipt of a means-tested benefit such as Pension Credit. Payments of £200 for those aged between 66 and 79, or £300 for those aged 80 and over, will be issued automatically later this year. Pensioners with an annual income of £35,000 will not be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. Those above the threshold will need to pay the money back through the Self Assessment tax return. It's unclear yet how this U-turn will affect 1.1m pensioners in Scotland now that Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has replaced Winter Fuel Payments north of the border. The Scottish Government has already confirmed all pensioners in Scotland will receive at least £100 this winter, while those on Pension Credit will receive either £203 (aged between 66 and 79) or £305 (aged 80 and over) - under the same age-related payment rules as Winter Fuel Payments. Pension Credit in a nutshell Pension Credit is the most under-claimed benefit and is specifically designed to provide additional financial support for older people on a low income - singles and couples. Nearly 1.4 million older people across Great Britain, including more than 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving the means-tested benefit that could provide an average of £4,300 in extra support during the coming months. Some older people think because they have savings or own their home they would not be eligible for the means-tested benefit, which can also provide access to help with housing costs, heating bills and Council Tax. An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock other support. Below is an overview of the benefit including who should check eligibility, how to go about it, how much you could get and where to get help filling in the form. Who can claim Pension Credit? There are two types of Pension Credit - Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit, you must be State Pension age (66). Your weekly income will need to be less than the minimum amount the UK Government says you need to live on. This is £227.10 for a single person and £346.60 for a couple - this amount could be higher if you're disabled, a carer or have certain housing costs. You can only get Savings Credit if: you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, or you have a partner who reached State Pension age before this date and was already receiving it you have qualifying income of at least £198.27 a week for a single person and £314.34 a week for a couple How much could you receive from DWP? Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to: £227.10 for a single person £346.60 for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting) You might be able to get more than this if you're disabled or a carer, or you have certain housing costs. Savings Credit can give you up to: £17.30 a week for a single person £19.36 a week for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting). The exact amount you'll get depends on your income and savings. Your income includes assumed income from savings and capital over £10,000. How to check eligibility for Pension Credit Older people, or friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on here. Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 - lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Expert help and advice is also available from: Independent Age Income Max Citizens Advice Age UK More details about claiming Pension Credit can be fond on here. Other help if you get Pension Credit If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as: Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in Council Tax discount Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme, Winter Fuel Payments or Pension Age Winter Heating Payment A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit In May 2019, the law changed so a 'mixed age couple' - a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it - are considered to be a 'working age' couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits. This means they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age. How to use the Pension Credit calculator To use the calculator on you will need details of: earnings, benefits and pensions savings and investments You'll need the same details for your partner if you have one. You will be presented by a series of questions with multiple choice answer options. This includes: Your date of birth Your residential status Where in the UK you live Whether you are registered blind Which benefits you currently receive How much you receive each week for any benefits you get Whether someone is paid Carer's Allowance to look after you How much you get each week from pensions - State Pension, private and work pensions Any employment earnings Any savings, investments or bonds you have Once you have answered these questions, a summary screen shows your responses, allowing you to go back and change any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then displays how much benefit you could receive each week. All you have to do then is follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support. There's also an option to print off the answers you give using the calculator tool to help you complete the application form quicker without having to look out the same details again. Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or your family member to make sure you're receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim. Who cannot use the Pension Credit calculator? You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner: are deferring your State Pension own more than one property are self employed have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit How to make a claim You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can claim any time after you reach State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for three months. This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time. You will need: your National Insurance number information about your income, savings and investments your bank account details, if you're applying by phone or by post If you're backdating your claim, you'll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start. Apply online You can use the online service if: you have already claimed your State Pension there are no children or young people included in your claim Article continues below To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you could get.
