Martin Lewis says loophole is handing state pensioners £4,200 each

Martin Lewis says loophole is handing state pensioners £4,200 each
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Martin Lewis has issued a crucial update over a loophole seeing state pensioners handed thousands each from the Department for Work and Pensions. Mr Lewis, the BBC Sounds and ITV star, has urged people to take advantage after the Winter Fuel Allowance was cut.

Speaking out about the DWP loophole, Mr Lewis - the Money Saving Expert - said around 800,000 eligible pensioners are missing out on support worth thousands of pounds. He ha s shared several lesser-known loopholes that could mean retired people are eligible for Pension Credit.

Pension Credit is worth £3,900 a year on average - and opens you up to the £300 Winter Fuel Payment - and MSE explained certain cases where a person can qualify with a higher income. Mr Lewis explained the first and detailed how, if you have a disability or illness, this may raise the threshold at which you become eligible.

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For those claiming attendance allowance (AA), which helps disabled pensioners with extra costs, the income threshold to qualify for rises by £82 a week. Mr Lewis shared a grateful message from reader Adele, who wrote: “Thank you for bringing AA to my attention. I’ve successfully claimed for my dad who has chronic arthritis - so he now gets an extra £72/wk.

“Now he has AA, he’s also eligible for a further £35/wk Pension Credit, and his Housing Benefit has been increased by £40/wk. So a total extra £150/wk - a huge help, and he will still be eligible for Winter Fuel Allowance.”

Mr Lewis also urged pensioners not to count themselves out just because they have savings or investments. And the MSE founder said high housing costs will be taken into account when a person applies for the benefit from the DWP too.

So a pensioner has a high ground rent or service charge for assisted living, this will be considered by the DWP, Mr Lewis added.