Wednesday 29 February 2012

Up to £2.93 billion of Pension Credit goes unclaimed every year and as many as 1.6 million people could be entitled to this money. People who get Pension Credit are automatically entitled to a Cold Weather Payment if average temperatures are recorded as or forecast to be zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days.

Pension Credit tops up income to £137.35 a week for a single person, £209.79 for a couple. Those with savings or a work pension could still be eligible as could those who own their own homes. Pension Credit can be backdated by up to three months.

People can claim Pension Credit, as well as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, in one free phone call on 0800 99 1234 without the need for a signed form. You can use the pension credit calculator to see if it is worthwhile making a claim by clicking on the link:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/PensionCredit/DG_180167

Ridley and Hall’s welfare benefits adviser, Naghmana Shabir can help if you  – or someone you know –  needs legal advice about welfare benefits. Free legal help may be available.