Sefton Council is urging people who are of State Pension age - 66 years or older – to check whether they are eligible for Pension Credit.

Worth on average £3,900 per year

Pension Credit is available to pensioners on a low income and worth on average £3,900 per year. Plus, it can unlock access to other support such as Winter Fuel Payments, help with Council Tax, NHS dental care and, for over 75s, a free TV licence.

It is a means-tested benefit that can bring single people’s income up to £218.15 a week, or £332 for a pensioner couple.

To apply for Pension Credit, people need their National Insurance number and details of income and pensions and any money, savings and investments for the previous three months.

Further information on who eligible and how to apply for Pension Credit can be found at www.gov.uk/pension-credit.

Missing out

Cllr Liz Dowd, Sefton Council’s Cabinet member for Communities and Partnership Engagement said: “According to research by Independent Age, based on recent DWP data, there could be over 8,000 eligible pensioners in Sefton not claiming Pension Credit that could be worth almost £19.5 million in total.

“As well as not getting this direct extra help, they could also be missing out on other support they could access such as Winter Fuel Payments, Council Tax support and free NHS dental care.

“I would urge people who are of pensionable age in Sefton to check whether they are eligible, but would also ask anyone whose parents, grandparents, friends or neighbours might qualify for Pension Credit to encourage them  to apply or even help them to do so.

“All the information you need is at www.gov.uk/pension-credit.”

People who do not have access to the Internet or a PC or smartphone can get online at their local Sefton Council Library where there is free computer and Wi-Fi access. Information about support to get online can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/seftonline.

Fully entitled

Cllr Dowd added: “When you make an application the government’s Department for Work and Pensions works out for you whether you qualify for extra payments and even if their answer is no, you haven’t lost out.

“Whereas by not applying you could be missing out on payments which, having paid tax all your life, you could be fully entitled to.”

Independent Age’s research shows that according to DWP data from 2019, while 10,350 pensioners in Sefton are claiming Pension Credit, 8,192 are not, which gives an unclaimed total of 19,495,117.