Don’t wait any longer as the deadline day is approaching for pensioners to secure the final £301 cost of living payout
Older people struggling to pay bills are urged to apply for a pension credit before May 19 to qualify for the final payout of £301 towards living expenses.
The government plans to give people on means tested benefits £900 over the next year, divided into three benefits, plus a further £150 if you have disability benefits and £300 for pensioners to help with energy bills.
As long as you apply for a retirement credit on Friday, which is ultimately successful, your application can be retroactive for three months and you will get the final payment for living expenses.
Support: People on means tested benefits can claim £900, plus a further £150 if they have disability benefits and a £300 top-up for pensioners to help with utility bills
If you are elderly and unwell, the weekly income with pension credit is topped up to a minimum of £201.05 for singles and £306.85 for couples. It may be more if you have a disability or care responsibilities.
You don’t have to receive a state pension to qualify for a pension credit, and a ‘rainy day fund’ of up to £10,000 will be disregarded if your income is low and you meet other conditions.
The pension discount also opens the door to a lot of extra support, including extra help with energy bills, council tax, housing costs and free TV licenses if you are over 75 years old. claim.
Pensions Minister Laura Trott says: ‘Pension credit can make a real difference and I am committed to ensuring that this support – worth an average of £3,500 a year – reaches everyone who needs it, especially as we know how busy households in the all over the country have been under.
‘Please check whether you or your loved ones are entitled to this extra support.’
To apply, call 0800 99 1234 or go to gov.uk/pension-credit.
tanya.jefferies @thisismoney.co.uk