Many pensioners still excluded from Pension Credit
Pension Credit: Yvonne on living on the breadline
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The benefit can increase a person’s income by £3,500 a year and thousands of eligible people are thought to be missing out on the support. But many older Britons cannot claim the funds despite being state pension age because of the way the rules work.
Couples can only claim if both partners have reached state pension age, leaving many pensioners unable to get support.
SNP MP Peter Grant asked Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride earlier in December if he had looked at changing the rules so couples can apply, where only one partner has reached state pension age.
Conservative MP Laura Trott said in response: “Since May 2019, both members of a couple need to have reached State Pension age to be eligible for Pension Credit.
“This policy ensures that the same incentives to work and save apply to the younger partner as apply to other people of the same age.
“Pension Credit is intended to provide long term support for pensioner households who are no longer economically active due to age.
“It is not intended to support people of working age. We have no plans to change this policy.”
This means even a person on the lowest amount of state pension whose partner is below state pension age and is also on a low income, still cannot get the support.
Rising costs for everyday essentials mean people on low incomes are feeling the squeeze on their budgets, so Government assistance can be a great help in covering their costs.
The Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, which tops up a person’s income, currently tops up a weekly income to £182.60 for single claimants, or to £287.70 for couples.
Pension Credit will increase by 10.1 percent next April, along with many other benefits, potentially providing an extra £960 for a single pensioner, or £1,470 a year for a couple.
The benefit also has a Savings Credit element, providing extra help for those who have savings or other pensions for their retirement.
People can get a top up of £14.48 a week for single people or £16.20 a week for couples.
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Claimants can also get additional funds through the scheme if they have a severe disability or care for another adult.
Extra support is also available for those who are responsible for children or young people, or have certain housing costs.
Pension Credit also acts as a “gateway” benefit that provides access to other Government support, including cost of living payments for this winter.
People on the benefit can get the Cold Weather Payment, a £25 payment paid to Britons when temperatures drop below, or are forecast to drop below, freezing.
Pension Credit claimants were also eligible for a £650 cost of living payment that went out to people on means-tested benefits this year, and will be eligible for a similar £900 payment next year.
Other support available to people who claim Pension Credit includes:
- Housing Benefit if the claimant rents the property they live in
- Support for Mortgage Interest if they own the property they live in
- Council Tax discount
- Free TV licence for those aged 75 or over
- Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments, depending on the person’s claim
- Help with heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme
- A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service for those moving houses.
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