Could you get Pension Credit?

The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a campaign to encourage take up of Pension Credit. Literature will be in G.P. surgeries, post offices and other outlets to target people over State Pension age, their friends and family.

The campaign has three aims:

• Draw attention to the availability of Pension Credit
• Highlight that people of State Pension age may be entitled to Pension Credit even though they may have savings or retirement income or own their own home
• Explain that any award of Pension Credit can provide access to a range of other benefits such as help with rent, council tax, heating and NHS services.

Beverley Young, AgeukCaP Communications and Campaigns Manager, said,

“For too many years we have been astounded by the number of older people we support who do not know they can claim pension credit, so this is a most welcome campaign. Last year we helped people claim a variety of benefits, to which they are entitled, estimated to be £1,800,000.  This money can be used to help older people to live better and more safely at home, by paying for things such as home help, keeping the home warmer, paying for more food, paying for transport or to attend a club. These things help people to live well and healthily. Not only are individuals happier, but the effect also reduces and delays the likelihood of needing intervention services, such as NHS care or social care. 

Raising awareness of this much under-claimed benefit and encouraging applications is timely, as if the proposed changes to TV licencing go ahead on 1^st June 2020, only those over 75s who are claiming Pension Credit will continue to receive a free TV licence.

There are so many reasons to check to see if you qualify for pension credit, so don’t delay – get in touch today!”

Call us on 0300 666 9860 or email infoandadvice@ageukcap.org.uk

Find out more:

The DWP have created a 30 second video and a poster which encourages people to check whether they are eligible. The video and poster direct people to www.gov.uk/pension-credit which contains detailed information about eligibility and claiming, access to a toolkit and the Pension Credit calculator which people can use to find out how much they might get.

Our Brand Partner Age UK, has lots of supporting information which you can read in the link below.