Despite being qualified, hundreds of thousands of retirees might lose out on a £299 tax-free cheque next month.
The payment, which is the third and last installment of the £900 cost of living allowance for some beneficiaries of means-tested benefits, will be made to most people between February 6 and February 22, according to confirmation from the government.
If they were eligible for the benefit or were later determined to be eligible, low-income pensioners might receive the payment through Pension Credit during the qualifying period.
The dates that fall within this range are November 13, 2023, and December 12, 2023.
The latest figures show up to 880,000 families who were entitled to get Pension Credit didn’t claim it in the year to April 2022, meaning up to £2.1billion of available Pension Credit went unclaimed.
A DWP spokesperson said: “The latest published take-up estimates cover the financial year ending 2022. Since April 2022, our extensive communications campaign has helped drive Pension Credit claims to an all-time high, with applications up by around 75 per cent in the 12 months to May 2023 compared to the same period last year.
“Alongside this, we’ve supported pensioners with the biggest state pension increase in history this year, have committed to the triple lock, and are providing pensioners with up to £600 to help with heating costs this winter.”
A Pension Credit calculator tool has been made available by the government to assist individuals in determining their eligibility for the benefit.
An individual must provide information about their income, assets, savings, pensions, and benefits in order to use the service. The applicant will also require the same information for any partners they may have.
Calling the Pension Credit claim line is an alternative for those who are unable to utilise the online calculator.
If a person has deferred their state pension, they should inquire about Pension Credit by calling the Pension Service helpdesk.
Pension Credit Claim Procedure
Pension Credit applications may be initiated at any time after attaining state pension age, but they can only be backdated by three months.
People who have already applied for the state pension can use the online service to apply for Pension Credit.
It’s also possible to apply for Pension Credit over the phone, by calling the Pension Credit claim line.
A friend or family member can call on the applicant’s behalf if they cannot use the phone.
As an alternative, applicants may apply by mail, print the Pension Credit claim form, fill it out, and mail it, or obtain a form over the claim line.