Pensioners on low incomes have until Thursday, August 18, to put in a claim for Pension Credit to the Department of Work and Pensions if they want to qualify for the UK Government’s Cost of Living payment to help towards the rising cost of living.
You may be eligible for Guaranteed Pension Credit if your weekly income is less than £182.60 if you are single, or £278.70 for couples.
The £650 Cost of Living payment, announced by the UK Government in May, will be paid to those who were receiving Pension Credit at any point between April 26 – May 25 2022. New claims for Pension Credit can be backdated up to a maximum of three months, which means a claiming before August 18 will see it fall within the qualifying period of April 26 to May 25, 2022.
It is estimated that around 123,000 eligible low-income pensioners in Scotland are not claiming Pension Credit that they are entitled to.
Pension Credit currently gives 1.4 million people across the UK extra money to help with living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income.
Some older people think because they have savings or own their home they would not be eligible for any Pension Credit, but the DWP said hundreds of thousands could be missing out on the extra money and discounts it provides every month.
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
- A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house
To find out if you are eligible for Pension Credit and to make an application: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit or call or call 0800 99 1234
