Many people in the Wyre Forest area are underclaiming Benefits. Pension Credit is one of those and local people are missing out.
It only takes a few minutes to make sure you’re getting all you’re entitled to.
Community Housing is encouraging pensioners to find out about the Pension Credit they may be missing out on.
Pension Credit means that people need not live on less than £201.05 a week for single people or £306.85 for couples. On top of that, people might also get help with rent, council tax and if you are over 75; a free TV licence. (These figures are different if you also qualify for PIP/DLA/AA.)
What’s more, if you have reached State Pension Age before 6 April 2016, you may be entitled to extra money if you have made some provision towards your retirement, such as savings or a private pension. This is called the Savings Credit and could be up to £14.48 for a single person or £16.20 for a couple.
Beverley Hiden Tenancy Sustainability Team Leader from Community Housing said: “I can’t stress enough the difference a friend or relative can make by doing a bit of research and talking to older relatives about what help is available.”
Lots of people could be missing out on Pension Credit because they wrongly think it isn’t meant for them. You might still get extra money even if you have savings and/or a private pension.
The Government have just announced that people in receipt of Pension Credit between 18 Aug-17 Sept 2023, will be entitled to the Cost of Living payment in November. As Pension Credit can be backdated 3 months, people have until 16 December to get the claim in.
Take a look at the benefits calculator on our website to find out what you might get. Claims can be made online at www.gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling the Freephone Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
For further advice on this or support to make a claim, contact the Tenancy Sustainability team on tenancysustainabilityteam@communityhousing.co.uk or call us on 0300 003 5454. We will support with checking entitlement, making claims and with challenging decisions, if required.
