DWP: State Pension age people on disability benefits could get extra weekly top-up

The DWP has issued new guidance

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have published new guidance about the ways in which eligible people may be entitled to extra Pension Credit. The advice published on GOV.UK explains that if someone of State Pension age receives Attendance Allowance or the middle or highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Adult Disability Payment (ADP), they may be entitled to extra Pension Credit.

The extra credit is £76.40 per week – rising to £81.50 from April. The Daily Record reports that a couple claiming Pension Credit where one person is claiming a disability benefit, will also receive an extra £76.40 per week (£81.50 from April).

However, a couple where both people are in receipt of a disability benefit, will receive an extra £152.80 each week (£163 from April). If someone is paid Carer’s Allowance they may be entitled to extra Pension Credit of £42.75 (rising to £45.60 from April).

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They may also get this extra Pension Credit if they are entitled to Carer’s Allowance but are not being paid it, or being paid it at a lower amount than normal, because they are being paid a higher amount by another, income-related benefit such as State Pension – more commonly referred to as an underlying entitlement.

Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit that gives people extra money to help with their living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income.

Quickest way to check eligibility for Pension Credit

Older people, or friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK here. Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 – lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Below is an overview of the benefit including who should check eligibility, how to go about it and how much you could get.

Pension Credit in a nutshell

Pension Credit gives people extra money to help with their living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income. It can also provide access to a range of other benefits.

The benefit currently tops up income to a minimum of £201.05 per week for single pensioners and £306.85 for couples – more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities.

From April 2024, the payments will increase to £218.15 per week for single pensioners and £332.95 for couples.

Who should check for Pension Credit?

If you are over 65 and reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, you could still qualify for Pension Credit if your weekly income is less than:

• £240.90 if you are single
• £351.45 if you are a couple

Other help if you get Pension Credit

If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:

• Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
• Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
• Council Tax discount
• Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over
• Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments
• Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme
• A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house

Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit

In May 2019, the law changed so a ‘mixed age couple’ – a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it – are considered to be a ‘working age’ couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits.

This means they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age.

How to use the Pension Credit calculator

To use the calculator on GOV.UK, you will need details of:

earnings, benefits and pensions

savings and investments

You’ll need the same details for your partner if you have one.

You will be presented by a series of questions with multiple choice answer options.

This includes:

• Your date of birth
• Your residential status
• Where in the UK you live
• Whether you are registered blind
• Which benefits you currently receive
• How much you receive each week for any benefits you get
• Whether someone is paid Carer’s Allowance to look after you
• How much you get each week from pensions – State Pension, private and work pensions
• Any employment earnings
• Any savings, investments or bonds you have

Once you have answered these questions, a summary screen shows your responses, allowing you to go back and change any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then displays how much benefit you could receive each week.

All you have to do then is follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support.

There’s also an option to print off the answers you give using the calculator tool to help you complete the application form quicker without having to look out the same details again. Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or your family member to make sure you’re receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim.

Who cannot use the Pension Credit calculator?

You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner:

are deferring your State Pension

own more than one property

are self employed

have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit

How to make a claim

You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can claim any time after you reach State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for three months.

This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.

You will need:

your National Insurance number

information about your income, savings and investments

your bank account details, if you’re applying by phone or by post

If you’re backdating your claim, you’ll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start.

Apply online

You can use the online service if:

you have already claimed your State Pension

there are no children or young people included in your claim

To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the GOV.UK Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you could get.

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