State pensioners have been urged to check if they can claim Pension Credit as they could be missing out on a huge boost to their income. Financial journalist Claer Barrett urged older Britons to check if they are eligible as they could get thousands of pounds a year in payments.
She appeared on ITV’s Lorraine to tell people about the benefit, which is increasing next month.
Ms Barrett said: “Nearly a million people are entitled to this but don’t claim it because they don’t know.”
Data from the DWP shows some 770,000 people in the UK are missing out on the support.
Ms Barrett urged family members to help their older relatives apply for the benefit if they can.
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She said: “If you’re a younger person watching this, maybe you could help your gran, help your mum, help an older relative, take your iPad over to their house if you’re going to visit them over Easter, hold their hand and sort through the process.
“It’s scandalous that so many people are not claiming these benefits that they’re entitled to when the cost of living crisis is raging on and bills are going up.”
Pension Credit tops up a person’s income to £182.60 a week for single people and up to £278.70 a week for couples.
Payments are increasing by 10.1 percent in the new tax year, with the top up for singles to go up to £201.05 a week, while the rate for couples will increase to £306.85.
An individual can find out how much state pension they are on track to receive using a state pension forecast tool on the Government website.
People can voluntarily pay NI contributions to top up their state pension which can provide a large increase in payments over the course of a person’s retirement.
A person may have gaps in their record because they spent time abroad or because they were out of work.
Many other benefits are also increasing by 10.1 percent next month, including Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance.
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV.
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