State pensioners who are 'over DWP threshold' can STILL get Pension Credit
Pension Credit claimants who think they are "over the limit" have been urged to check their eligibility by Martin Lewis. It is estimated 880,000 households across the UK eligible for the support, worth on average £3,900 a year, are missing out. People over State Pension age need to apply by 21 December, the last date for making a backdated claim, in order to receive this year’s Winter Fuel Payment.
A fan of BBC and ITV star Mr Lewis' MoneySaving Expert (MSE) has thanked the team for their advice, after their mother was granted Pension Credit. 'Lucinda' explained in an email that she initially thought her parent wasn't eligible for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit as they were only just 'over the threshold'.
"I saw Martin's email saying: 'If you're only just over, try it anyway'," she explained. "A (long) call to the DWP later and mum told me she'll get Pension Credit. My dad died earlier on this year, so not only has mum been going through it, but money is much tighter."
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Sebrina McCullough, director of External Relations a Money Wellness, warned: "Many are unaware or unsure how to check what they should be getting this is why so many are missing out on Pension Credit and therefore the winter fuel allowance this year.
"We would urge struggling pensioners to find out if they’re missing out. They can do this using our free online tool or by calling us on 0161 518 8285 and we’ll complete the assessment for them.” The pensions expert said: "One in five pensioners live on the state pension alone, making them some of the most financially vulnerable members of society.
"They are completely reliant on a small, fixed monthly income and are therefore most exposed to increases in the cost of living. Around 5 percent of all the people we help are pensioners. We’re supporting 200 a month on average who solely rely on the state pension as income.
"And it’s important to point out that many of these have higher living costs than younger generations because of illnesses associated with older age."