State pensioners urged not to miss out on potential £4,500 payment
Hundreds of thousands of pensioners are being urged to check whether they qualify for a benefit worth more than £4,500 a year on average, as the Government launches a new campaign to help low-income households boost their retirement income. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is sending 660,000 leaflets to households across seven areas of the UK, encouraging older people to check their eligibility for Pension Credit and seek help with making a claim if needed.
TL;DR
- Hundreds of thousands of pensioners are being urged to check their eligibility for Pension Credit.
- The benefit is worth over £4,500 a year on average and helps low-income households with retirement income.
- The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is sending 660,000 leaflets across seven UK areas to raise awareness.
- The campaign aims to combat misconceptions about who can claim Pension Credit, including homeowners and those with savings.
- Pension Credit can provide additional money for living costs and open doors to other forms of support.
- Around 1.4 million pensioner households already receive Pension Credit, but many more eligible people are not claiming.
- A previous awareness campaign led to an increase of 33,500 applications.
- Minister for Pensions, Torsten Bell, emphasized the significant financial difference Pension Credit can make.
- Leaflet distribution areas include Glasgow, Powys, Stockton-on-Tees, inland Cornwall, Birmingham, East Suffolk, and Manchester.
- The initiative is part of the DWP’s Pension Credit Week of Action.
- Advertising will also run across various media platforms, including a partnership with ITV's The Chase.
- Charity Independent Age estimates over one million eligible older people did not receive Pension Credit in 2023/24, missing out on an estimated £2.5 billion.
- Pensioners unsure of eligibility are encouraged to check and seek advice from organisations like Independent Age and Citizens Advice.