PENSIONERS are facing a tough few months after access to the Winter Fuel Payment was slashed to only those who claim Pension Credit, but thankfully, other help is at hand.
There are 12 freebies and discounts you can claim if you are over state pension age and on a low income that could help boost your budget.
There are a number of freebies and benefits that can boost a pensioner’s income[/caption]
According to charity Age UK, billions of pounds’ worth of benefits go unclaimed every year, so it’s worth checking what support you might be entitled to.
The support available covers everything from help with rental costs, assistance for those requiring care, pension top-ups and discounted transport.
If you are eligible for these benefits or freebies and discounts, you could find yourself thousands of pounds better off this winter.
Pension Credit
Many people who found themselves losing the Winter Fuel Payment this year could actually still be eligible.
This is because they may not realise they could actually claim Pension Credit.
It’s estimated that more than 800,000 people who qualify aren’t claiming the benefit.
Pension Credit is a tax-free benefit that will top up your income to a minimum limit.
The weekly benefit comes in two parts – guarantee credit and savings credit – and is completely separate from your State Pension.
You can claim Pension Credit if you have reached State Pension age and your weekly income is less than:
- £218.15 if you’re single
- £332.95 if you’re a couple.
Pension Credit tops up what you are currently receiving to meet the above amounts.
If you’ve saved money towards retirement this amount is topped up further via the savings credit part of the benefit.
Pension credit is described as a “gateway benefit” because it also opens up a host of other perks.
This can include help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills and even a free TV licence if you are 75 or older.
It will also give you access to the winter fuel payment, worth up £300.
You may also get additional pension credit if you are disabled, have caring responsibilities or have to pay certain housing costs such as mortgage interest payments.
Applications can be made on the Government website or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is a benefit which helps with extra costs if you have a severe disability that requires someone to help look after you.
It’s paid at two different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need.
The lower rate is worth £72.65 a week, while the higher rate is £108.55 a week.
Those who receive the lower rate must require frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.
Those who require supervision throughout the day and night will receive the higher rate.
There are 56 categories of medical conditions that enable you to make a claim, including heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.
You are also entitled to claim if a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live.
To apply online, visit www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/how-to-claim.
Council tax reduction
If you’re on a low income or receive certain benefits, you can get help towards your council tax bill from your local authority.
The amount your bill might be cut by depends on your circumstances.
But, if you receive the guarantee element of pension credit your council tax could be written off in full.
If you live alone, you will get the 25% reduction, even if you’re not entitled to any other benefits.
To apply for a council tax reduction you need to contact your local council.
State Pension
State Pension is paid to both men and women from the age of 66.
Not everyone gets the same amount, with the payment rate based on an individual’s National Insurance (NI) record.
Workers must have 35 qualifying years of NI to get the maximum amount of the new state pension.
You earn NI qualifying years through work, or by getting credits, for instance when you are looking after children and claiming child benefit.
If you have gaps, you can top up your record by paying in voluntary NI contributions.
To get the old, full basic state pension, you will need 30 years of contributions or credits.
You will need at least 10 years on your NI record to get any state pension.
Last month, it was confirmed that the maximum payment for the new State Pension will rise from £8,814 to £9,167.
You won’t automatically get the state pension – you need to claim it once you’re eligible.
You should receive a letter no later than two months before you reach state pension age, explaining what to do.
Housing benefit
Housing benefit can cover rental costs, if you’re of state pension age or over and on a low income.
To receive the benefit you will also need to have savings of less than £16,000.
If you live with a partner you both need to be of state pension age to claim housing benefit, if not you’ll need to make a Universal Credit claim.
Housing benefit is means tested, so the amount you will receive depends on your income and how much you have in savings.
But if you get the guarantee element of pension credit, your income and savings won’t be taken into account – so you may get your rent paid in full.
To apply for housing benefit, contact your local council.
Cold weather payment
Cold weather payments are made to eligible residents in areas where the temperature is recorded at zero degrees Celsius or below, for seven consecutive days.
A £25 payment will be made for each seven day period of very cold weather between November 1 2024 and March 31 2025.
You may be eligible for the payments if you receive:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
Payments are made automatically, so you do not need to apply for the benefit.
Warm home discount
The £150 warm home discount is available to pensioners and those on low incomes.
Those who qualify for the discount will have £150 deducted from their energy bills by the end of March 2025.
You’ll be eligible if you receive the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit, or are on a low income and have high energy costs.
The discount should be automatically deducted from your energy bill this winter if your eligible, but those on low-incomes living in Scotland need to apply through their energy providers.
If you were eligible for the payment last winter and did not receive it, contact your energy supplier.
If your energy supplier is unable to help write to the warm home discount scheme on 110552 Warm Home Discount Scheme,
PO Box 26965, Glasgow, G1 9BW.
Carer’s Allowance
Carer’s allowance is available to those who look after someone who would find it difficult to manage without their support.
You don’t need to be related to the person you care for to make the claim.
Carer’s allowance and the state pension are overlapping benefits, so you can’t claim both independently.
But if you receive less than £81.90 through your state pension, you can claim carer’s allowance to top it up to that level.
To be eligible you must spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who is ill or disabled.
To apply call the Carer’s Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0297
Free TV licence
You can claim a free TV licence if you’re 75 or older and either receive Pension Credit yourself or live with a partner who gets Pension Credit.
You can apply for a free licence when you’re 74, but will still have to pay until the end of the month before your 75th birthday.
You can apply for your free licence online or by calling 0300 790 6071.
If you’re not entitled to a free licence, you could still receive a discount.
You could be eligible for a discounted TV licence if you live in residential care or sheltered accommodation, or if you’re registered blind.
If you live in sheltered accommodation or residential care and are over 60 or disabled you can get a licence for just £7.50.
Your housing manager should be able to check if you’re eligible and will apply for you.
If you’re registered blind, or live with someone who is, you’re in line for a 50% discount.
The licence must be in the name if the person registered blind, but if your existing licence is not in their name you can make an application to transfer it.
You can apply for the discount on the TV Licensing website.
Transport concessions
In England, you can get a bus pass for free travel when you reach the State Pension age.
Plus, if you live in London, you can travel free on buses, tubes and other transport when you’re 60, but only within London.
In Wales, you can get a bus pass when you reach 60.
You get an older person’s bus pass when you’re 60 if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
You can apply for the pass via your local council’s website which will have more information.
Pensioners can also apply for a Senior Railcard to get discounted rail fares.
There is an annual cost of £30 for the card and gets you 1/3 off train travel.
People with a Senior Railcard save on average £142 a year, according to the government.
The Senior Railcard is available to travellers aged 60 or over.
You can apply for the card on the National Rail website.
Free prescriptions
Once you reach 60, you can get free prescriptions from your local pharmacy – prescriptions usually cost £9.90 each in England.
So if you usually buy a single prescription each month you could save £118.80 over the year.
This benefit is automatic and there’s no need to apply.
If you’re 60 or over you’re also entitled to a free NHS sight test, so you should let your optician know when you reach 60 if you haven’t already.
Eye tests can usually cost between £20 and £30.
Household Support Fund
Struggling households can get help with the cost of living via the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The fund has recently has been extended for the sixth time, with £421million set to be made available to regional councils to distribute from this month.
The support you can access depends on where you live, but funds can be paid out as shopping or fuel vouchers, cash payments or other means.
Under the previous round of funding, households in Leicester could apply to receive £300 payments to help with utilities and essential costs.
In Plymouth eligible residents could receive a maximum of £740 in vouchers.
This included £240 in supermarket vouchers, £200 in energy vouchers as well as an essential item of household furniture or white goods or £300 of clothing vouchers.
Schemes vary across the country, but every council will receive funding to distribute.
To see what’s on offer where you live, contact your local council.
How do I apply for pension credit?
YOU can start your application up to four months before you reach state pension age.
Applications for pension credit can be made on the government website or by ringing the pension credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
You can get a friend or family member to ring for you, but you’ll need to be with them when they do.
You’ll need the following information about you and your partner if you have one:
- National Insurance number
- Information about any income, savings and investments you have
- Information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want to backdate your application to (usually three months ago or the date you reached state pension age)
If you claim after you reach pension age, you can backdate your claim for up to three months.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
