Martin Lewis urges pensioners to make one phone call to boost income by nearly £4,000

Linda Howard

6 September 2024 at 7:13 am·6-min read

Martin Lewis is urging nearly a million State Pensioners to make one phone call which could top up their annual income by nearly £4,000. The consumer champion appeared on Good Morning Britain (GMB) earlier this week to encourage people over 66 on a low income to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit.

The founder of MoneySavingExpert (MSE.com) has been “shouting” about the “chronically under-claimed” benefit for many years, but this week he has issued a ‘clarion call’ encouraging pensioners, family members and neighbours to check entitlement as even a Pension Credit award for a £1 per week is enough to unlock access to additional support, including Winter Fuel Payments, worth up to £300.

Martin admitted the eligibility might be confusing for some people as Pension Credit is an income-related benefit, but urged people to check online using the GOV.UK calculator or by simply phoning the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 to see if they should claim.

Martin told presenters Ed Balls and Kate Garroway: “It’s all a bit complicated so let’s make this really, really, really simple. If you're a low income pensioner and you’re struggling and you don’t get Pension Credit, just go online and do the calculator to see if you’re due it, or if online scares you, call up the Pension Credit helpline and talk to someone.

“You will not be told off for asking if you are due Pension Credit. If you’re not due Pension Credit, they’ll just tell you.”

Pension Credit eligibility

Martin also shared his quick rule of thumb for Pension Credit eligibility.

Single pensioners

Weekly income under £218 - you are likely to get it
Weekly income under £235 - you may get it

Couples

Combined weekly income under £333 - you are likely to get it
Combined weekly income under £350 - you may get it

The eligibility change to Winter Fuel Payment will affect people over State Pension age living in Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and those living abroad.

Quickest way to check eligibility for Pension Credit

As Martin already mentioned, older people, or friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK here.

Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 - lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Expert help and advice is also available from:

Below is an overview of the benefit including who should check eligibility, how to go about it and how much you could get.

Pension Credit in a nutshell

Pension Credit gives people extra money to help with their living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income. It can also provide access to a range of other benefits.

The benefit tops up income to a minimum of £218.15 per week for single pensioners and £332.95 for couples - more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities.

People with a severe disability, carers and those who are responsible for a child or a young person who lives with them could receive additional money.

Other help if you get Pension Credit

If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:

Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
Council Tax discount
Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over
Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments
Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme and Winter Fuel Payment
A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house

Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit

In May 2019, the law changed so a ‘mixed age couple’ - a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it - are considered to be 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 State Pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age.

How to use the Pension Credit calculator

To use the calculator on GOV.UK, you will need details of:

earnings, benefits and pensions
savings and investments

You’ll need the same details for your partner if you have one. You will be presented by a series of questions with multiple choice answer options.

This includes:

Your date of birth
Your residential status
Where in the UK you live
Whether you are registered blind
Which benefits you currently receive
How much you receive each week for any benefits you get
Whether someone is paid Carer’s Allowance to look after you
How much you get each week from pensions - State Pension, private and work pensions
Any employment earnings
Any savings, investments or bonds you have

Once you have answered these questions, a summary screen shows your responses, allowing you to go back and change any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then displays how much benefit you could receive each week.

All you have to do then is follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support.

There’s also an option to print off the answers you give using the calculator tool to help you complete the application form quicker without having to look out the same details again. Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or your family member to make sure you’re receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim.

Who cannot use the Pension Credit calculator?

You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner:

are deferring your State Pension
own more than one property
are self employed
have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit

How to make a claim

You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can claim any time after you reach 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 in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.

You will need:

your National Insurance number
information about your income, savings and investments
your bank account details, if you’re applying by phone or by post

If you’re backdating your claim, you’ll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start.

Apply online

You can use the online service if:

you have already claimed your State Pension
there are no children or young people included in your claim

To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the GOV.UK Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you could get.

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