Claim your Pension Credit entitlement now

Hello everyone, I am Gus Cairns MBE, and I would like to give old people like me (76) a little push in the direction of Pension Credit which is a way of boosting your pensions.

Pension Credit is an extra payment to help with your living costs if you’re over state pension age and on a low income. It tops up your weekly income to a guaranteed level of £201.05 if you’re single or £306.85 if you’re married or in a civil partnership.

Pension Credit can not only help you cover your day to day living costs, but it can also entitle you to other grants, benefits, and discounts such as:

• Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
• cost of living payments worth up to £1,200 in 2023/24
• support for mortgage interest if you own the property you live in
• Council Tax discount
• a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over
• help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments, if you get a certain type of Pension Credit
• help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme
• a discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you’re moving house.

You can claim Pension Credit regardless of whether you’re still working or have retired. You can also claim if you have other income, savings, or own your own home. You might get a higher amount of Pension Credit if:

• you are disabled
• you have caring responsibilities, or
• you are responsible for paying essential housing costs, including mortgage interest payments.

Pension Credit is not charity, it is an entitlement for all your hard work over many years. One in three people who are entitled to Pension Credit are not currently claiming it. Make sure you apply for Pension Credit now if you are eligible.

How to claim

You can apply to claim Pension Credit online, over the phone, or by post. You will need:

• your National Insurance number
• information about any income, savings and investments you have
• information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want to backdate your application to (usually 3 months ago or the date you reached State Pension age)
• you’ll also need your bank account details. Depending on how you apply, you may also be asked for your bank or building society name, sort code and account number.

Apply for Pension Credit online

Apply over the phone: 0800 99 1234

To apply by post, print out and fill in the Pension Credit claim form or call the claim line to request a form. Send the claim form to the Pension Service or ask someone to do it for you.

The Pension Service 8

Post Handling Site B

Wolverhampton

WV99 1AN

Pension Credit claim form - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Read more about Pension Credit on the government website