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A new trial to boost Pension Credit take up is underway after analysis by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), showed significant regional disparities in pensioners claiming the benefit, which can be worth over £100 a week. Nearly one million pensioners over State Pension age are estimated to be eligible for the top-up, worth over £4.300 each year, but not claiming it. Pension Credit does more than provide direct financial support, it can unlock access to additional financial help with heating bills, housing costs, Council Tax and free TV licences for those aged 75 and over. New research published on October 30 found Scotland has the highest Pension Credit uptake of any nation in the UK at 67 per cent. However, the report published by the DWP suggests there are still a third of potentially eligible Scottish pensioners yet to claim - adding up to around £150 million. Within Scotland, Glasgow is leading on uptake at 79 per cent while Orkney Islands and Aberdeenshire have the lowest uptake at 44 and 49 per cent respectively. Breakdown of Pension Credit uptake proportion in Scotland: The new trial - in partnership with Age UK and Independent Age - consists of a letter sent to 2,000 pensioners across England urging them to claim Pension Credit. These pensioners have been identified through the analysis as being the most likely to be eligible for Pension Credit but not currently claiming the benefit. The exact average amounts for Pension Credit: The drive to put more money in the pockets of pensioners who need it the most is part of the Government’s wider plan for national renewal, ensuring everyone across the country is seen, valued and treated with respect. Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell said: “We’re committed to supporting harder-up pensioners however we can. Pension Credit is a simple way to give those who need it the most some extra support with bills or a free TV licence. "I'd urge anyone who thinks they, or anyone they know, might be able to claim Pension Credit, to take a few minutes out of their day to check and apply. This country’s pensioners deserve every penny they are entitled to” This comes as the annual national figure showing how many eligible pensioners were not claiming Pension Credit was published. This shows an increase on the previous year’s figure of up to 760,000 households. The figure shows the number of eligible pensioners not claiming between 2023 and 2024, before the Department launched its biggest ever Pension Credit awareness campaign. This campaign has seen an extra 56,700 households awarded Pension Credit in the last year alone with awards of Pension Credit now worth on average £83 a week. Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, said: “We’re pleased to support this proactive UK Government trial to increase the reach of Pension Credit. If you’re in financial hardship, where you live shouldn’t be a factor in whether or not you receive the money you’re entitled to, but at the moment it is. “With the continued high cost of living, the older people that we speak to cannot afford to miss out on any of the money they are eligible for. “Initiatives like this trial are a positive step towards increasing the number of people receiving the financial support they are entitled to, and we urge the UK Government to continue building on this strategic approach.” The new trial marks a shift in how the Department identifies and contacts potentially eligible pensioners who are not claiming Pension Credit. Previously, letters targeted pensioners receiving Housing Benefit. If successful, further trials could take place. This comes during the Department’s Pension Credit Week of Action aimed at raising awareness of the benefits of Pension Credit and encouraging everyone eligible to apply. It builds on the UK Government’s commitment to supporting pensioners, including through plans to simplify the application process for Housing Benefit and Pension Credit as well as via the triple lock which is set to see the yearly state pension rise by up to £1,900 over this parliament. Housing costs Energy bills Health and wellbeing TV Licence Pension Credit is the most under-claimed benefit and is specifically aimed at providing additional financial support for older people on a low income - singles and couples. Nearly 1.4 million older people across Great Britain, including more than 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving the means-tested benefit that could provide an average of £4,300 in extra support during the coming months. An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock other support. Below is an overview of the benefit including who should check eligibility, how to go about it, how much you could get and where to get help filling in the form. There are two types of Pension Credit - Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit , you must be State Pension age (66). Your weekly income will need to be less than the minimum amount the UK Government says you need to live on. This is £227.10 for a single person and £346.60 for a couple - this amount could be higher if you're disabled, a carer or have certain housing costs. You can only get Savings Credit if: Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to: You might be able to get more than this if you're disabled or a carer, or you have certain housing costs. Savings Credit can give you up to: The exact amount you’ll get depends on your income and savings. Your income includes assumed income from savings and capital over £10,000. 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: More details about claiming Pension Credit can be fond on GOV.UK here. If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as: 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. To use the calculator on GOV.UK , you will need details of: 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: 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. You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner: 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: 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. You can use the online service if: 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.
