People over DWP State Pension age and living on own could get nearly £4k extra a year
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that nearly 78 per cent of all new claims for Pension Credit are processed - from initial application to award decision letter - within the target timeframe of 50 working days. This means older people on a low income making a new claim this month, especially those living on their own, could receive their first payment and any arrears over the next few months.
Despite the full New State Pension now being worth £221.20 per week and the full Basic State Pension worth £169.50, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in 2021, some 3.3 million people aged 65 years and over were living alone in England and Wales, with around 337,000 single pensioner households recorded in Scotland.
It's crucial for older people - single, married or cohabiting - to make sure they are claiming all the additional financial support they are entitled to this winter to help offset the price cap increase of 10 per cent which came into force last month.
The rule change to eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment - worth up to £300 - means that Pension Credit claimants will automatically qualify and new claims made before December 21 will also qualify for a backdated payment. Pension Credit, the most under-claimed benefit, is designed to provide extra financial support for older people on a low income, both singles and couples. Nearly 1.4 million older individuals across Great Britain, including over 125,000 residing in Scotland, are currently receiving this means-tested benefit, which could offer nearly £4,000 in additional support for the coming year.
