DWP urges pensioners to make 'quick online' check to get extra £4,200

Pension Credit tops up your income if you’re implicit authorities pension property - but it besides comes with further perks specified arsenic unlocking the Winter Fuel Payment

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has urged older Brits to bash a “quick online” cheque to spot if they’re eligible for Pension Credit.

This is simply a payment that tops up your income if you’re implicit authorities pension property - but it besides comes with further perks. For example, it besides means you go entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment, escaped dental treatment, positive a escaped TV licence if you're implicit the property of 75.

But it is estimated that up to 880,000 pensioners are missing retired connected Pension Credit each year. The DWP has enactment retired an urgent connection connected X, formerly Twitter, calling for radical to walk a fewer minutes checking their eligibility. The DWP said: “Are you implicit 66? A speedy online exertion could unlock £4,200 per twelvemonth connected mean successful Pension Credit positive other assistance with heating bills including a Warm Home Discount.”

The main portion of Pension Credit is known arsenic "Guarantee Credit" and this tops up your play income to £218.15 if you're single, oregon to £332.95 if you’re successful a couple. Your income usually needs to beryllium beneath these amounts to beryllium eligible, but you mightiness inactive beryllium capable to assertion if you person a higher income and you person a terrible disability, you're a carer, oregon you person to lodging costs.

You tin beryllium entitled to other amounts if you’re a carer, severely disabled, oregon liable for a kid oregon young person. If you reached authorities pension property earlier April 6, 2016, oregon you person savings oregon a 2nd pension, you whitethorn beryllium eligible for the savings recognition constituent of Pension Credit. This is worthy £17.01 a week if you're single, oregon £19.04 a week if you're successful a couple.

Pension Credit - however bash I apply?

You tin use for Pension Credit connected GOV.UK, by calling 0800 99 1234, oregon by printing retired and filling successful a paper exertion form. You tin use up to 4 months earlier you scope authorities pension age. You volition request the pursuing accusation to hand:

• Your National Insurance number
• Information astir immoderate income, savings and investments you have
• Information astir your income, savings and investments connected the day you privation to backdate your exertion to (usually 3 months agone oregon the day you reached authorities pension age)
• Your bank, gathering nine oregon recognition national relationship details