DWP Pension Credit support worth £3,500 is now unclaimed by 880,000 Brits. New annual figures published this morning by the Department for Work and Pension (DWP) “show an alarming drop in the proportion of younger pensioners claiming the Pension Credit to which they are entitled”, according to experts.
The take up rate in ages under 75 is just 60 per cent – down from 68 per cent in 2020. The take-up rate in aged 75 and over has stayed at 65 per cent, bringing down the total claim to 63 per cent, from 66 per cent in 2020. Commenting, Steve Webb, partner at consultants LCP said: “The drop in Pension Credit take-up is deeply worrying.
“Despite a range of publicity campaigns, the message is simply not getting through. Pension Credit is a vital way of ensuring that people in retirement have a decent minimum standard of living. It seems likely that the link between Pension Credit and free TV licences for older pensioners has helped to sustain levels of take-up in that group, but the drop amongst younger pensioners must prompt urgent action.
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“Many of those who do not take-up pension credit will be known to the government, for example through claiming other benefits such as housing benefit. Systematic use of the data government already holds is the best way to tackle this problem rather than one-off publicity campaigns”.
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’ll be eligible if either you and your partner have both reached State Pension age or one of you is getting Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age.
A partner is either your husband, wife or civil partner – if you live with them or someone you live with as a couple, without being married or in a civil partnership. Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £201.05 if you’re single or your joint weekly income to £306.85 if you have a partner.
