Are You missing out on Pension Credit?

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Nearly a million households are entitled to, but not receiving pension credit  and in Leeds alone there are thought to be over 10,000 households missing out on this.

Pension Credit is extra money for people over state retirement age to top up their income.

The basic amounts to qualify are weekly income less than £177.10 for a single person and £270.30 for a couple but you may still be able to get it if your income is higher depending on your circumstances – for example there is an extra amount if you have a disability, if you care for someone, or if you have certain housing costs.  And if you reached pension age before April 2016 you may be also be able to claim savings credit.

There is NO savings limit for pension credit although savings over £10,000 will reduce the amount you can get.

You can claim if you are still working if your income is low enough for you to qualify.  It’s tax free and you don’t have to have paid NI contributions.

What counts as income includes:

  • State Pension
  • other pensions
  • earnings from employment and self-employment
  • most social security benefits, for example Carer’s Allowance

If you’re entitled to a personal or workplace pension and you have not claimed it yet, the amount you’d expect to get still counts as income.

Not all benefits are counted as income. For example, the following are not counted:

  • Attendance Allowance
  • Christmas Bonus
  • Child Benefit
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • Social fund payments like Winter Fuel Allowance
  • Housing Benefit
  • Council Tax Reduction

You could do a quick benefit calculation on https://benefits-calculator-2.turn2us.org.uk/

Pension Credit is worth claiming even if you only qualify for a very small amount, as it can entitle you to lots of other things including:  full housing benefit, reduced council tax, warm home discount, cold weather payments, free tv licence if you are over 75, help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments.

Pension Credit can be claimed by phone: 0800 99 1234 or online: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim.

Or ask Caring Together if you need help.