Older pensioners not eligible for Winter Fuel Payment may be due extra DWP boost
The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that the State Pension currently provides a regular financial income for 12.7 million older people across the country, including more than one million retirees living in Scotland. This payment is available for those who have reached the UK Government’s eligible retirement age, which is currently 66 for both men and women, and have paid at least 10 years' worth of National Insurance (NI) contributions.
However, people over 80 who have no Basic State Pension income or have a weekly income of less than £101.55 each week, could be due extra money to help them with daily living expenses. The ‘Over 80 Pension’ currently gives older people £101.55 each week if they are receiving no Basic State Pension, or makes up the difference to that amount.
READ MORE: People urged to maximise State Pension payments before end of current financial year
READ MORE: DWP issues new Winter Fuel Payment update for every State Pensioner
People over 80 on a low income may also be eligible for Pension Credit, which provides on average more than £3,900 in extra financial support each year. From this year, the annual Winter Fuel Payment of £300 for those aged over 80, will only be made to people in receipt of income-related benefits such as Pension Credit.
New research from Age UK indicates four in every five pensioners living below or just above the poverty line will miss out on this year’s Winter Fuel Payment under the planned benefit cut.
The charity said its analysis suggested 10.7m pensioners will lose the benefit, of whom almost one in four (23%) live in poverty, or just above the poverty line.
The charity found 80 per cent, some 800,0000 of pensioners aged 80 and over living in poverty or just above the poverty line will no longer receive the payment, as well as 78 per cent (1.1m) of pensioners with a disability living in the same circumstances. The study also suggests 76 per cent (1m) who live alone will no longer receive the payment of up to £300.
Claiming the ‘Over 80 Pension’
It’s important to be aware that you cannot get the ‘Over 80 Pension’ if you reached State Pension age on or after April 6, 2016 - if you have, you are eligible for the New State Pension.
The guidance on GOV.uk states that you can claim the over 80 pension if all of the following apply:
You are 80 or over
You do not get Basic State Pension or your Basic State Pension is less than £101.55 a week
You were resident in the UK for at least 10 years out of 20 (this does not have to be 10 years in a row) - this 20 year period must include the day before you turned 80 or any day after
You were ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, the Isle of Man or Gibraltar on your 80th birthday or the date you made the claim for this pension, if later
If you live in or are moving to a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, find out about pensions and benefits for UK nationals in the EU, EEA and Switzerland on GOV.UK here.
Your eligibility for the over 80 pension is not based on National Insurance contributions.
How to claim
You can get a claim form from either:
your local Jobcentre Plus
the Pension Service
The earliest you can claim is three months before your 80th birthday. You can get a claim form sent to you from the Pension Service by calling 0800 731 7898. Full details on GOV.UK here.
Pension Credit
Nearly 1.4m older people across Great Britain, including more than 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving the means-tested benefit that could provide an average of £3,900 in support during the year ahead. However, the latest figures from the DWP suggest there are still 780,000 eligible pensioners not claiming the benefit they are entitled to.
Some older people think because they have savings or own their home they would not be eligible for the means-tested benefit, which can also provide access to help with housing costs, Winter Fuel Payment and Council Tax.
An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock other support. New claims submitted to DWP before December 21, 2024 which later turn out to be successful, will be entitled to a backdated Winter Fuel Payment.
Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £218.15 a week for single pensioners or £332.95 for couples. It is a tax-free payment for those who:
have reached Pension Credit qualifying age, which is State Pension age, and
live in Great Britain
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.
Expert help and advice is also available from:
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 tops up income to a minimum of £218.15 per week for single pensioners and £332.95 for couples - more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities.
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 and Winter Fuel Payment
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.
