Hundreds of thousands of people are believed to be missing out on financial support from the DWP
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has stated that around 78% of all new Pension Credit claims are processed from initial application to decision within 50 working days. This suggests that older people on low incomes, particularly those living alone, who make a new claim this month could receive their first payment and any outstanding balance before the end of December.
Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds confirmed the DWP had “secured funding for additional staffing to improve processing times”. Conservative MP Dr. This comes after Luke Evans questioned what measures were being taken to reduce the time it takes to process new claims for the annual income increase, which cost an average of £3,900.
The number of new claims has risen by 152% since the DWP announced in July that winter fuel payments would only be given to older people on low incomes who are receiving means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit. for mixed age couples), or tax credits. New claims for pension credit made before December 21, 2024, which succeed later, will qualify for backdated winter fuel payments.
Last week Dr. In a written response to Evans, the pensions minister said: “The most recent information on processing times for pension credit was published in the DWP Annual Report and Accounts published on 22nd July 2024.”
The DWP has successfully processed a significant proportion of pension credit claims on time during the 2023/24 financial year. “This shows that in 2023/24 the DWP cleared 192,000 Pension Credit claims within the planned 50 working day timeframe, which is 77.7 per cent. The department has secured funding for extra staffing to improve processing times.”, reports the Daily Record.
Who Can Claim Pension Credit?
Pension Credit is claimed by around 1.4 million people across the UK. There are misconceptions about whether having savings or owning your own home disqualifies a person from being eligible, but this is not always the case. Pension Credit can also help people with housing, heating bills and council tax.
A step-by-step guide explains who is eligible for Pension Credit — available through two separate parts: Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. Guarantee Credit requires claimants to be at State Pension age (66) and provides a top-up if income falls below £218.15 for singles or £332.95 a week for couples.
This may increase for people with disabilities, carer responsibilities or certain housing costs. In contrast, Savings Credit rewards people with modest retirement savings, supplementing their income further. The exact amount you will get depends on your income and savings. Your income includes savings over £10,000 and assumed income from capital.
Who is Eligible for Pension Credit?
To check eligibility for Pension Credit, older people or their friends and family can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they could receive using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV. UK.
Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit Helpline directly to check whether they should make a claim on 0800 99 1234 – lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. Expert help and advice is also available.
You can also get other help if you qualify for Pension Credit. In May 2019, the law changed so that a ‘mixed couple’ – a couple where one partner is of state pension age and the other is below it – is treated as a ‘working age’ couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits. .
This means they cannot claim pension credit or pension age housing benefit until they are both of state pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed-age couple could be eligible to claim more generous state pension age benefits when only one of them reached state pension age.
To use the calculator on GOV. In the UK, you will need details of earnings, benefits and pensions, savings and investments. If you have a partner, you will also need their details. You will be asked a series of multiple-choice questions.
Once you’ve answered this, a summary screen will display your responses, allowing you to review and change any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit Calculator will then show how much benefit you can get each week.
Just follow the link on the application page to find out exactly what you’ll get from the DWP, including access to other financial support. There is also an option to print your answers from the calculator tool which helps you fill the application form faster without going through the same details again.
Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or a family member to make sure you’re getting all the financial support you’re entitled to claim. However, you cannot use the calculator if you or your partner are deferring your state pension, own more than one property, are self-employed, or have housing costs (such as service charge or Crown tenant rent) that not have
You can start your application up to four months before you reach state pension age. You can claim at any time after reaching State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for three months.
This means you can get up to three months of pension credit towards your initial payment if you are eligible during that period. You will need: your National Insurance number, information about your income, savings and investments and your bank account details if you are applying by phone or post.
If you are backdating your claim, you will need details of your income, savings and investments from the date you wish to start your claim. Apply online if you have already claimed your State Pension and your claim does not involve any children or young people.
To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use GOV. Here’s a UK Pension Credit calculator to find out how much you could get.
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