DWP urges state pensioners to claim £4,350 in 16 minutes | Personal Finance | Finance

State pensioners have been urged to claim an average of £4,350 – which could be yours in as little as 16 minutes, says the DWP.

The Department for Work and Pensions is urging pensioners to claim Pension Credit, which it says is worth an average of £4,200 a year to those who receive it, and will also enable you to claim another £150 on top to help pay for energy bills via the Warm Home Discount as well as payments of £25 a week when the weather turns cold via Cold Weather Payments.

The DWP posted on X: “This Energy Savers Week, Pension Credit could give you: – £150 off energy bills with a Warm Home Discount, An average of £4,200 per year, Cold Weather Payments (and more). It takes roughly 16 minutes to apply online.”

Pension Credit is often called a gateway benefit, which means it opens your eligibility to a range of other potential benefits.

As well as the £300 Winter Fuel Payment, you can also receive Housing Benefit, a Council Tax Discount, help with your mortgage interest, a free TV Licence (if you’re also over 75), and help paying for NHS dental treatment, glasses and even taxis or buses to and from appointments.

Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single and £332.95 if you’re in a couple and is especially lucrative to those on the old basic state pension, which only pays a maximum of £169.50, and those with an incomplete National Insurance record would be paid even less than this per week.

But you can get even more on top of this if you need to claim additional support on top.

Those with a severe disability can get an extra £81.50 per week. If you care for an adult, you could get an extra £45.60 per week. And if you’re responsible for children or young people you could get another £66.29 per week, or £76.79 if they were born before April 6, 2017.

The DWP added, via its website: “Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

“You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.

“Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension.

“You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.”