Don’t delay as deadline day looms to secure cost-of-living support 

Older people struggling to pay bills are being urged to get a pension credit application in by May 19 to qualify for the latest £301 cost-of-living payout.

The Government plans to give people on means-tested benefits £900 spread across three payments over the coming year, plus a further £150 if you are on disability benefit and a £300 top-up for pensioners to help with energy bills.

As long as you submit a pension credit application by a week on Friday, which is eventually successful, your claim can be backdated by three months and you will get the latest cost-of-living payment.

If you are elderly and not well off, pension credit tops up weekly income to a minimum of £201.05 for single people and £306.85 for couples. It can be more if you have a disability or any caring responsibilities.

You do not need to receive a state pension to be eligible to claim pension credit, and a ‘rainy day fund’ of up to £10,000 will be disregarded if your income is low and you meet other stipulations.

Pension credit also opens the door to a lot of additional support, including extra help with energy bills, council tax, housing costs, and free TV licences if you are over 75. However, despite the benefits, hundreds of thousands of eligible people do not claim.

Pensions Minister Laura Trott says: ‘Pension credit can make a real difference and I am determined to make sure this support — which is worth an average of £3,500 a year — is reaching everyone who needs it, particularly as we know how much pressure households across the country have been under.

‘Please check if you or your loved ones can claim for this extra support.’

To apply, phone 0800 99 1234 or visit gov.uk/pension-credit.

tanya.jefferies @thisismoney.co.uk