Spread the message that there’s no shame in claiming retirement assets, says new campaign

One in six retirees would be embarrassed to tell their family they had applied for a pension loan to supplement their income, new research has found.

More than half of over-66s are also reluctant to ask for support or help from their friends or relatives, even if they need it, Royal London research shows.

Pension Credit increases weekly income to at least €218.15 for singles and €332.95 for couples, and gives you access to lots of extra help paying bills.

Crucially, you’ll keep your winter fuel payment, worth between £100 and £300 per year, if you make a claim before the December 21 cut-off date.

The government announced in the summer that these payments would be means-tested in future, sparking outrage from charities and campaigners for older people such as Ros Altmann.

To claim pension credit: Below you can read how you can supplement your weekly income

Royal London found that of older people who have found out they are eligible for a pension credit, 11 per cent have not yet applied and only 2 per cent plan to do so before the deadline for receiving the winter fuel payment.

This shows that there is a real reluctance among retirees to go through the application process for pension credits, the company says.

Successor Brian Cox is currently leading a celebrity campaign urging retirees to make a claim.

He is joined by film and TV actor Jane Asher and Sue Holderness, who played Marlene in the sitcom Only Fools and Horses, launched by national charity Independent Age.

Royal London, which runs its own campaign under the banner Take The Credit, last month surveyed more than 1,200 people aged over 66 from all regions of Britain about their attitudes to pension credits and other issues. It found:

– More than a third find asking for help uncomfortable

– One in ten believes there are people who need more financial help than they do

– Nearly a third of people on low incomes – those earning less than the pension credit threshold – have not yet checked their eligibility

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

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

“Too many pensioners – around three-quarters of a million – are still missing out on this financial support,” said Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist at Royal London.

‘Some of the main reasons why people miss out on a pension loan is because they don’t think they qualify for it, or because they are too ashamed to admit they need extra help.

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

‘Times have been difficult in recent years, so it is important that we come together and encourage retirees, whether they are family, friends or neighbors, to explore all possible support options.’

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

If you are elderly and not wealthy, your weekly income will be supplemented with a pension credit of up to at least £218.15 for singles and £332.95 for couples.

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

You could get thousands of pounds on top, 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 the rules about who qualifies here.

You can register by telephone at 0800 99 1234claim pension credit online or receive a form to do this by post.

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

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

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

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

Advisors from the charity carry out benefits checks to ensure callers have access to all available support, including pension credit and the winter fuel payment.

Age UK staff provide assistance with applications. Any senior struggling with bills, or friends and family concerned about it, can call 0800 169 6565.

This line is open every day of the year from 8am to 7pm, or you can drop by Age UK’s help page here.

It also has a free, anonymous benefits calculator who can provide an estimate of what you may be entitled to if you want to know this information privately.

Age UK says the three groups likely to be most affected by the means testing of the Winter Fuel Payment are those whose income is 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 that all pensioners receive the support they are entitled to. That is why we are deploying more than 500 additional staff to process the expected increase in claims,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions.

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

‘Successful pension credit claims can be backdated by three months, so all eligible claims submitted before December 21 will also receive a winter fuel payment and pension credit arrears.

‘We continue to urge anyone who thinks they are entitled to a pension credit to check this now.’