Ten days left to claim Pension Credit and qualify for £301 Cost of Living Payment

Low-income pensioners entitled to pension credit are being urged to claim it or risk missing out on an extra cost-of-living payment

Pensioners are being urged to check if they could be eligible for Pension Credit, worth over £3,500 a year on average.

The government says those making a new claim in the next 10 days could get a Cost of Living payment worth £301.

If a claim is made in the next ten days and approved then the applicant will also qualify for the latest £301 payment, which they will receive direct into their bank accounts.

It is estimated that 25 per cent of people who could claim Pension Credit do not currently do so. This means they do not receive a top-up of the state pension, as well as other payments and discounts.

Minister for Pensions Laura Trott said: “Pension Credit can make a real difference and I am determined to make sure this support – worth an average of £3,500 a year – is reaching everyone who needs it, particularly as we know how much pressure households across the country have been under. 

“Please check if you or your loved ones can claim for this extra support, and if you do it by 19 May you could qualify for the £301 Cost of Living Payment – giving another financial boost to those who need it most.”

Pension Credit is designed to help people over State Pension age and on a low income with daily living costs, though you do not need to be in receipt of State Pension to receive it.

It tops up a person's income to a minimum of £201.05 per week for single pensioners and to £306.85 for couples or more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities.

Worth on average over £3,500 a year, even a small Pension Credit award can provide access to a wide range of other benefits – such as help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills – in addition to the extra cost of living payments, worth up to £900 this financial year.

Applications for Pension Credit can be made:

• On the How to Claim page
• Over the phone by calling 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm)
• By printing out and filling in a paper application form
• For more information visit the Pension Credit GOV.UK page. For extra resources for stakeholders and businesses, the department has also produced a Stakeholder Toolkit
• Currently, around 1.4 million pensioners in Britain receive Pension Credit. However, many are still not claiming this extra financial help
• Pension Credit can be claimed by phone and online. The online Pension Credit calculator is also available to help pensioners check if they’re likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive