Are you missing out on Pension Credit?

The Council is encouraging pensioners to find out about the Pension Credit they may be missing out on.

It’s estimated that around 80,000 pensioners across Wales are entitled to Pension Credit but are not claiming it. According to the Bevan Foundation charity, 16% of pensioners are estimated to be in poverty in Wales.

People are being urged to check whether they qualify for the benefit worth, on average, £3,900 a year. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) suggests that some older people may mistakenly think they're ineligible for Pension Credit due to their savings or property ownership.

Pension Credit provides crucial support to older people on low incomes, topping up their income to a minimum of £218.15 a week for single people or £332.95 for couples.

For people who have reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, they may be entitled to extra money if they have made some provision towards their retirement such as savings or a private pension. This is called the Savings Credit and could be up to £17.01 for a single person or £19.04 for a couple.

In addition, people may also get help with housing costs, council tax, heating bills, healthcare and if you’re aged 75 or over, a free TV licence.

Liz Thomas, Head of Finance & Audit for the Council said:

"Pension Credit is already making a difference to over 3000 people in Denbighshire. Many people could be missing out because they wrongly think it isn't meant for them. I would urge friends and relatives to offer help by doing a bit of research with an older person to find out what financial help is available.

Claiming Pension Credit is important because it can provide access to a range of other entitlements. Some people may only be eligible to claim a few pounds in Pension Credit so feel it's not worth claiming, but they should consider the bigger picture as it opens the door to a lot of further support.

Ensuring residents are maximising their household incomes can make a real difference to people’s lives, as well as connecting them with valued services and organisations across Denbighshire.”

You can initiate your application up to four months prior to reaching State Pension age. You're allowed to claim any time after you reach State Pension age, but your claim can only be backdated for three months. You can find out if you’re eligible for Pension Credit and how much you could get by using the pension calculator - www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator.

Graham Kendall, Chief Officer at Citizens Advice Denbighshire said:

“We recently helped a 75-year-old client who lives on her own in her own home. She called into one of the Citizens Advice drop ins as she wanted to check if she was eligible to receive any additional entitlements following the recent death of her husband. Our client was in receipt of State Pension, had a couple of private pensions, and had savings below £10,000. When we checked, she was entitled to Pension Credit of £6 per week and Council Tax Reduction of £30 per week. We also informed her that if she was awarded Pension Credit, she could apply for a Funeral Payment to help with the costs of her husband's funeral. Our client successfully applied for both benefits and following the Pension Credit award, received some help with the funeral costs.

"We deal with a lot of residents who are struggling to balance the books due to the cost of living but can be too proud to consider looking into what financial support they may be entitled to. We aim to break down barriers and encourage residents to open up and discuss their personal circumstances. We provide free, confidential advice and support including full benefits checks, complete forms, support customers to manage fuel poverty and provide housing advice.”

If you’re unsure if you are eligible, or would like help and support with your application, please contact Citizens Advice Denbighshire on 01745 346 775 or via their online form -https://www.cadenbighshire.co.uk/get-in-touch.

Alternatively, claims can be made online at www.gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling the Freephone Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.