Don’t miss out: Claim pension credit and qualify for extra £324

Pensioners have until 18 December to check and apply for Pension Credit

Pension Credit is designed to help people over State Pension age and on a low income with daily living costs, though you do not need to be in receipt of State Pension to receive it.

The average Pension Credit award is worth over £3,500 a year and even a small Pension Credit award can provide access to a wide range of other benefits - such as help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills - in addition to the extra cost of living payments.

Pension Credit claims can be backdated for up to 3 months and this means pensioners could also receive a £324 boost.

Pension Credit tops up a person's income to a minimum of £182.60 per week for single pensioners and to £278.70 for couples. To ensure that a successful backdated claim falls within the qualifying period for the extra £324 cost of living help, eligible pensioners are being urged to claim Pension Credit as soon as possible, and by no later than 18 December 2022.

Applications for Pension Credit can be made online at https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim or over the phone by calling 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm).