The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging hundreds of thousands of state pensioners to check their eligibility for a significant financial boost, as new figures reveal a vast number are missing out.
Massive Uptake Gap for Vital Support
Official statistics show that an estimated 760,000 eligible pensioner households did not claim Pension Credit in the period from 2022 to 2023. This marks an increase from the previous year's figures. The benefit is worth an average of £4,300 per year, or roughly £83 per week, providing crucial support for living costs.
Labour's Minister for Pensions, Torsten Bell, has made a direct appeal to older people and their families. "We're committed to supporting harder-up pensioners however we can," he stated. "I'd urge anyone who thinks they, or anyone they know, might be able to claim Pension Credit, to take a few minutes out of their day to check and apply. This country's pensioners deserve every penny they are entitled to."
Government Campaign Shows Positive Impact
These figures predate the launch of the DWP's largest-ever awareness campaign for Pension Credit. That initiative has already proven successful, leading to an extra 56,700 households being awarded the benefit in the last year alone.
Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at the charity Independent Age, welcomed proactive government trials to increase uptake. "With the continued high cost of living, the older people that we speak to cannot afford to miss out on any of the money they are eligible for," Vine said. "Initiatives like this trial are a positive step."
What Pension Credit Is Worth
The DWP provides clear figures on the average weekly amounts pensioners could receive:
- For a couple: £114.99 per week
- For an individual pensioner: £78.23 per week
- The overall average award: £82.71 per week
Beyond the direct payment, claiming Pension Credit can act as a gateway to other support, including help with council tax, housing costs, and a free TV licence for those aged 75 and over. Experts stress that checking eligibility is a simple but vital step for any pensioner facing financial pressure.
