Saqib Bhatti MP, Member of Parliament for Meriden, is encouraging pensioners to sign up for pension credits before 10th December to take advantage of a potential extra £300 Cost of Living boost thanks to pension credit backdating rules. The Department of Work and Pensions has teamed up with Harry Redknapp to urge pensioners to sign up for pension credits before deadline day. Harry hails pension credits from his car window as a ‘brilliant signing’ and calls on pensioners and their loved ones to use the online pension credit calculator to see what they are entitled to. Checking eligibility and applying by 10 December 2023 means pensioners could still receive the extra Cost of Living Payment, as successful claims can be backdated for up to three months as long as the applicant was also eligible to receive during that time.
Pension credits provide extra money to help with living costs for those over State Pension age and on a low income, and can also help with housing costs, such as ground rent or service charges. It tops up a person’s income to a minimum of £201.05 a week for single pensioners and up to £306.85 for couples. Following last week’s Autumn Statement, those figures will go up next April. Although there are already 1.4 million people claiming pension credits, there are many more eligible pensioners who have yet to make a claim.
Commenting on the campaign, Saqib said:
“I am encouraging all pensioners and their loved ones to use the pensions credit calculator to see how much they could be entitled to. Signing up before 10 December could mean receiving an extra £300 Cost of Living boost in addition to support worth an average of £3,900 per year.
Minister for Pensions, Paul Maynard said:
“We want every pensioner to receive all the help they can and with time ticking down to deadline day and the window drawing to a close, now’s the perfect time to check out our Pension Credit calculator and make sure you or your loved ones aren’t missing out on this vital support. In many cases, it’s an open goal to more money in your pocket.”
