DWP State Pension four-week warning as 'thousands miss out on £4k payment'

People of State Pension age could be missing out on extra financial support. The Department for Work and Pension (DWP) recently confirmed that close to 78% of new Pension Credit claims are completely processed within 50 working days.

This means that older people on a low income could receive their first payment as well as any arrears by the end of December as long as they make a claim this month. The full New State Pension is worth £221.20 per week and the full Basic State Pension worth £169.50.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in 2021, some 3.3 million people aged 65 years and over were living alone in England and Wales, with around 337,000 single pensioner households recorded in Scotland. The recent change to eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment - worth up to £300 - means that Pension Credit claimants will automatically qualify and new claims made before December 21 will qualify for a backdated payment.

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And Pension Credit is currently the most under-claimed, Express reports. Almost 1.4 million elderly individuals across Great Britain, including over 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving this means-tested benefit, which could provide nearly £4,000 in additional support during the forthcoming year.

However, recent figures from the DWP reveal that there are still 880,000 eligible pensioners not claiming the benefit they're entitled to. Some older people mistakenly think that owning their home or having savings disqualifies them from this means-tested benefit, which can also provide help with housing costs, heating bills and Council Tax.

Who is eligible for Pension Credit?

Pension Credit comes in two forms: Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit, you must be of State Pension age (currently 66). Your weekly income should be less than the minimum amount the UK Government deems necessary for living.

This minimum is set at £218.15 for single individuals and £332.95 for couples. These amounts may be higher if you're disabled, a carer, or have certain housing costs.

Savings Credit is only available under specific conditions:

• you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, or you have a partner who reached State Pension age before this date and was already receiving it
• you have a qualifying income of at least £189.80 a week for a single person and £301.22 a week for a couple

How much could you potentially receive?

Guarantee Credit supplements your weekly income to a certain level. You might be eligible for more if you're disabled, a carer, or have certain housing costs.

Savings Credit can provide up to a certain amount. The exact amount you'll receive depends on your income and savings. Any income from savings and capital over £10,000 is taken into account.

Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency

Child poverty is soaring in Birmingham and without urgent change, will only get worse. Having worked with charities and community groups, BirminghamLive is campaigning for the following changes to start to turn the tide:

1. End the two-child benefit cap
2. Provide free school meals to every child in poverty
3. Create a city “aid bank” for baby and child essentials
4. Protect children’s and youth services
5. Create permanent, multi year Household Support Fund and give more Discretionary Housing grants
6. Set up child health and wellbeing hubs in our most deprived neighbourhoods
7. Appoint a Birmingham child poverty tsar
8. Provide free public travel for young people

You can see why in more detail here.

Read our full report Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency here.

What you can do to help.