Spread the message that there is no shame in claiming pension credit, says new campaign

One in six pensioners would be embarrassed to tell their family that they are applying for a pension loan to supplement their income, new research reveals.

According to the Royal London survey, more than half of people over 66 also do not like to ask their friends or family for support or help, even if they need it.

The pension credit increases weekly earnings to a minimum of £218.15 for singles and £332.95 for couples, and gives you access to plenty of extra help with bills.

Crucially, that includes keeping your winter fuel payment, which is worth between £100 and £300 a year, if you apply before the December 21 deadline.

The Government announced in the summer that these payments would be means-tested in the future, sparking an outcry from charities and seniors activists such as Ros Altmann.

claiming pension credit: Find out how to top up your weekly income below

Royal London found that among older people who discovered they qualify for pension credit, 11 per cent have not yet applied for it and only 2 per cent intend to do so before the deadline to receive the Fuel Payment. Winter.

This shows that pensioners have real doubts when going through the pension credit application process, says the company.

Probate star Brian Cox is currently leading a celebrity campaign urging struggling pensioners to claim.

He will be joined by film and TV actress Jane Asher and Sue Holderness, who played Marlene in the comedy Only Fools and Horses, in an initiative by national charity Independent Age.

Royal London, which is running its own campaign under the banner Take The Credit, surveyed more than 1,200 people aged 66 and over from all regions of the UK over the past month about their attitudes towards pension credit and other issues. . Found:

– More than a third find it uncomfortable to ask for help

– One in 10 believe that there are people who need financial help more than them

– Almost a third of low-income people – those who earn less than the threshold for pension credit – have not yet checked whether they qualify

– About 16 percent would be more likely to apply if it were not described as a benefit.

– The same percentage said they would be embarrassed to tell friends and family if they applied for a pension loan.

“Too many pensioners – around three quarters of a million – are still not receiving this financial support,” says Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist at Royal London.

‘Some of the main reasons people miss out on pension credit are because they think they wouldn’t qualify or they don’t check because they feel too embarrassed to admit they need extra help.

‘We need to spread the message that there is no shame in accepting the help available.

“These have been difficult times in recent years so it is important that we come together and encourage pensioners, whether they are family, friends or neighbours, to explore all the support options that may be available.”

How to apply for pension credit and where to get help with claims

If you are an older person and not well off, pension credit tops up your weekly earnings up to a minimum of £218.15 for singles and £332.95 for couples.

On average, it’s worth around £4,000 a year on its own, but pension credit also opens the door to lots of extra help with household bills.

Plus you could win thousands of pounds including help with housing costs, heating, council tax, TV licenses if you’re over 75 and other bills.

Learn more about pension credit here and about him rules about who is eligible here.

You can apply by phone at 0800 99 1234say online pension credit either Get a form to do it by mail.

A friend or family member can apply on behalf of an older person.

In Scotland, a new winter heating payment for retirement age will eventually replace the winter fuel payment.

But for this winter, eligible people over state pension age will receive a payment in line with the Winter Fuel Payment, and this will be means-tested. Check here if you live in Scotland and here for Northern Ireland.

Celebrity campaign: From left, Sue Holderness, Jane Asher and Brian Cox urge older people to check if they can claim pension credit

Independent Age, a charity focused on improving the lives of older people in financial difficulty, offers help on its freephone line 0800 319 6789.

The charity’s advisers carry out welfare checks to ensure callers have access to all available support, including pension credit and winter fuel payment.

Age UK staff provide help with applications. Any senior who is struggling with bills, or friends and family who are worried about them, can call 0800 169 6565.

This line is open every day of the year from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., or you can visit Age UK help page here.

It also has a free and anonymous profit calculator which can provide you with an estimate of what you might be entitled to if you wish to know this information privately.

Age UK says the three groups likely to be most affected by the Winter Fuel Payment means test are those whose incomes are slightly too high to get a pension credit, people who could claim it but don’t (usually a third of those eligible) and sick or disabled people with high energy needs.

What does the DWP say?

“We want to ensure all pensioners receive the support they are entitled to, which is why we are deploying more than 500 additional staff to process the expected increase in claims,” says a Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson.

‘Our pension credit campaign has also managed to increase applications by 152 per cent.

‘Successful pension credit applications can be backdated by three months, so all eligible applications submitted before December 21 would also receive a winter fuel payment as well as pension credit arrears.

“We continue to urge anyone who believes they may be entitled to pension credit to check now.”