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I’m getting £4,087 in backdated pension credit plus £300 winter fuel payment this Christmas after chasing DWP for a YEAR
Plus, we've explained how you could be due extra cash this winter
EX-CONSTRUCTION worker Richard Holden had been chasing the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to approve his pension credit claim for almost a year when The Sun stepped in to help him.
The 75-year-old from Blackpool rang our Winter Fuel SOS hotline last month as he was concerned that he would miss out on this year's winter fuel payment.
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Our expert team has been working tirelessly to assist readers following the government's decision to axe the winter fuel benefit worth up to £300 for 10million pensioners.
Cuts made by Chancellor Rachel Reeves mean the payment is now limited to retirees on pension credit or those receiving certain other means-tested benefits.
More than 760,000 risk missing out if they don't apply for pension credit before December 21.
Like millions of other state pensioners, Richard would've lost his payment this year.
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The 75-year-old retired last year and now lives on his state pension, which amounts to £222.70 per week - just £2 above the threshold to qualify for pension credit.
However, because he also receives extra cash help through attendance allowance, benefit checks revealed that he's could apply for pension credit.
His attendance allowance, worth £108.55 per week, has been a crucial aid in covering his increased living costs due to arthritis and type two diabetes.
Citizens Advice helped him initiate his pension credit claim back in November 2023, but by the end of October 2024, he was still yet to receive any payments.
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He told The Sun: "I've only just retired last August and I'm having to cut costs everywhere I look.
"I've phoned the DWP ten times since December last year, and every single time, the agent has just fobbed me off and told me that they’d be in touch in 10 working days.
Winter Fuel Payment Changes
"The last call I made was back in September. It's a total disgrace."
The Sun contacted the DWP on Richard's behalf and requested that his case be investigated.
Upon discovering that Richard was eligible for £75 per week in pension credit, the DWP processed his claim.
Since Richard had formally applied for pension credit in November 2023, the DWP also agreed to issue backdated payments totalling £3,787.33, covering the period from August 2023 to October 2024.
He received payments from August 2023 because new pension credit claims can be backdated by three months.
The remaining amount was issued to account for the fact that he had been eligible for the benefit but faced unnecessary delays in being informed of his eligibility.
Additionally, because Richard was found to be eligible for the benefit during the period when the Conservative government was issuing a £300 cost of living payment, he also received this amount.
A government spokesperson said: "We are sorry for the delay in confirming Mr Holden’s eligibility for pension credit.
"We have now issued payment for the pension credit owed backdated to August 2023, as well as a cost-of-living payment of £300.
"We have apologised to Mr Holden, and we will learn lessons from the service delays in this case."
The Sun's Winter Fuel S.O.S Campaign
THE Sun's Winter Fuel SOS Campaign is here to support households during these challenging times.
Due to government cutbacks, ten million pensioners are set to lose the £300 Winter Fuel Payment.
Since opening our phone lines to thousands of pensioners in October, we remain dedicated to providing tips and advice on how to stretch your finances further.
That's why we have partnered with the poverty charity Turn2Us to launch a free benefits checker, helping you ensure that you are claiming all the benefits to which you are entitled.
Don't miss our latest Sun Money coverage, which includes essential information on key deadlines, applying for support, and everything you need to know about Pension Credit.
If you have a story to share or wish to get in touch with our team, please email us at [email protected].
CHECK IF YOU QUALIFY
Pension credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or to £332.95 if you have a partner.
This is known as "guarantee credit".
If your income is lower than this, you're very likely to be eligible for the benefit.
However, if your income is slightly higher, you might still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.
You could get an extra £81.50 a week if you have a disability or claim any of the following:
- Attendance allowance
- The middle or highest rate from the care component of disability living allowance (DLA)
- The daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
- Armed forces independence payment
- The daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) at the standard or enhanced rate.
You could get the "savings credit" part of pension credit if both of the following apply:
- You reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016
- You saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension
This part of pension credit is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples.
Claims for pension credit also open doors to a number of freebies and discounts.
For example, pension credit claimants over 75 qualify for a free TV licence worth up to £169.50 a year.
Claims for the benefit also provide eligibility to £25 a week cold weather payments and the £150 warm home discount.
The deadline to apply for pension credit and qualify for this year's winter fuel payment is December 21.
We have a guide on all the state pension freebies and discounts you can get.
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)
You can also check your eligibility online by visiting www.gov.uk/pension-credit first.
If you claim after you reach pension age, you can backdate your claim for up to three months.
How much is the winter fuel payment and how is it paid?
Payments last year were worth between £300 and £600, depending on your specific circumstances.
This is because the amount included a "Pensioner Cost of Living Payment" - between £150 and £300.
This year, it will be worth £200 for eligible households or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.
That means you could receive up to £300 in free cash depending on your circumstances.
Most payments are made automatically in November or December.
You'll get a letter telling you:
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- How much you'll get
- Which bank account it will be paid into
If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 29, 2025, you must contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity works out what you could get.
Entitledto's determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
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