Last Updated: August 8, 2024
In the wake of the Government’s announcement to limit tax-free winter fuel payments to those on pension credit from the autumn, pensioners are being advised to check their entitlement to state benefits.
Winter fuel payments worth up to £300 a year are paid to 10million people above pension age across the UK. However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced plans to restrict the payments to those who are on means-tested benefits.
Retirement specialist Just Group have said the move should be a prompt for those receiving state benefits to check their eligibility to Pension Credit as this will be the ‘gateway’ to receiving the winter fuel payments.
Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, said, ‘Almost everybody eligible received winter fuel payments because it was paid automatically and no-one had to jump through any hoops to claim. In contrast, the government’s own figures show that up to 880,000 families entitled to receive Pension Credit fail to claim each year. […] We would urge everyone to use this decision as a reason to check their entitlement, or to ask someone like a family member to do it on their behalf.’
Research conducted by Just Group found that homeowners are unlikely to check their entitlement to benefits regularly, if at all. Among the 1,000 adults aged 65 and over that were surveyed, nearly four in ten (38%) homeowners have never checked their eligibility for state benefits. Comparatively 15% of renters have checked at least once and are twice as likely as homeowners to have checked their eligibility in the last year.
Stephen Lowe continued, ‘There are many on incomes just above the thresholds who will feel financial pain and face difficult choices about whether to switch on their heating or save some cash. Checking their entitlement to benefits will be especially important for this group.’
There are a range of resources available to find out more information and check your eligibility to claim Pension Credit. Visit www.gov.uk/pension-credit for more information and www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators to check what benefits you may be entitled to. You can also reach out to your local council’s Adult Social Care team for support and guidance.
