State pensioners waking up to free £4,087 'backdated' payment from DWP

People who claim Pension Credit are being handed THOUSANDS from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ). One claimant, Richard Holden had been chasing the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to approve his pension credit claim for almost a year and has now been handed thousands.

The Sun newspaper has helped the 75-year-old from Blackpool to receive over £4k. Mr Holden retired last year and now lives on his state pension, which amounts to £222.70 per week - just £2 above the threshold to qualify for pension credit.

He also claims Attendance Allowance, though, meaning he could apply for Pension Credit to boot. He told The Sun : "I've only just retired last August and I'm having to cut costs everywhere I look.

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"I've phoned the DWP ten times since December last year, and every single time, the agent has just fobbed me off and told me that they’d be in touch in 10 working days. The last call I made was back in September. It's a total disgrace."

Upon discovering that Richard was eligible for £75 per week in pension credit, the DWP processed his claim. The DWP also agreed to issue backdated payments totalling £3,787.33, as well as a £300 cost of living payment. A government spokesperson said: "We are sorry for the delay in confirming Mr Holden’s eligibility for pension credit.

"We have now issued payment for the pension credit owed backdated to August 2023, as well as a cost-of-living payment of £300. We have apologised to Mr Holden, and we will learn lessons from the service delays in this case."

Pension Credit is a benefit that provides extra tax-free income to people over State Pension age who are on a low income. The average award is over £3,900 per year, and it can also help people qualify for other support, such as help with housing costs, council tax, and heating bills.