Denbighshire residents benefitted from £215,000 in Pension Credit Campaign

The Council has been running a campaign over the last few months to encourage pensioners to find out about the Pension Credit they may be missing out on. A total of £215,000 has been identified so far, with residents being supported by Citizens Advice Denbighshire to claim the benefits they are entitled to.

Over £58,000 has been Pension Credit claims however, other benefits including Attendance Allowance, Council Tax Reduction and Housing Benefit have also been identified as a result of full benefits checks.

On 29 July 2024, new changes were announced regarding eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments. They will now only be provided to individuals receiving State Pension Credit.

During Pension Credit Week of Action, 2-6 September, more people are being urged to check whether they qualify for the benefit worth, on average, £3,900 a year and unlocks additional support including Winter Fuel Payments, Council Tax, healthcare and if you’re aged 75 or over, a free TV licence.

It’s estimated that around 80,000 pensioners across Wales are entitled to Pension Credit but are not claiming it. Two letters have already been sent to eligible pensioners in Denbighshire to highlight the support available and encourage applications as well as follow-up telephone calls and partnership engagement.

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.

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

"I’m delighted the campaign has already resulted in thousands of pounds of unclaimed benefits being identified to help pensioners in Denbighshire. This is welcome news, and I would urge friends and relatives to start a conversation with an older person to find out what financial help may be 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 including the Winter Fuel Payment. Ensuring residents are maximising their household incomes can make a real difference to people’s lives.”

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. as long as there is entitlement during that time. This means that the latest date to apply and still qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment is 21 December 2024. 

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 commented:

“The campaign has been really successful as we’ve been able to directly target those pensioners that may be eligible for Pension Credit by working in partnership with Denbighshire County Council.

“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 - 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.