A fresh online movement is calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reinstate the annual Winter Fuel Payment for all pensioners receiving the Basic State Pension. With around 13 million residents of State Pension age in the UK, nearly 9 million were eligible for this contributory benefit prior to April 6, 2016.
The campaign, led by Barry Stevens with the petition titled ‘reinstate the Winter Fuel Allowance for those who are paid the old State Pension‘, highlights that the yearly increases to the New and Basic State Pension only “widens” the gap between these payments.
Barry Stevens has spoken out on the issue, stating: “Those in receipt of the old State Pension who do not qualify for state benefits are increasingly disadvantaged year on year. We believe the Government should restore the Winter Fuel Allowance to those pensioners involved to remedy the unfairness.”
At present, recipients of the full New State Pension receive £230.25 weekly, whereas those on the full Basic State Pension get a mere £176.45.
The petition is available on the Petitions Parliament website and seeks 10,000 signatures to elicit a written response from the UK Government. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it may prompt a debate in Parliament, as per the Petitions Committee’s rules, according to the Daily Record.
The DWP has estimated that approximately 760,000 people across Great Britain are eligible for Pension Credit but have not claimed it. The silver lining is that there’s ample time to submit a new claim to increase the amount of PAWHP or Winter Fuel Payment you receive later this year.
Quickest method to verify eligibility for Pension Credit
Elderly people, or their friends and family, can quickly determine their eligibility and get an estimate of potential benefits by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK here.
Alternatively, pensioners can directly contact the Pension Credit helpline to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 – lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
How to use the Pension Credit calculator
To utilise the calculator you will require details of:
- earnings, benefits and pensions
- savings and investments
If you have a partner, you’ll need the same information for them. You will be presented with a series of questions with multiple choice answer options.
This includes:
- Any savings, investments or bonds you have
- Where in the UK you live
- Whether someone is paid Carer’s Allowance to look after you
- Your residential status
- How much you receive each week for any benefits you get
- Which benefits you currently receive
- Whether you are registered blind
- Any employment earnings
- How much you get each week from pensions – State Pension, private and work pensions
- Your date of birth
Once you’ve responded to these questions, a summary screen displays your answers, allowing you to go back and modify any responses before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then reveals how much benefit you could receive each week.
All that’s left to do is follow the link to the application page to find out precisely what you will receive from the DWP, including access to other financial support.
There’s also an option to print off the answers you provide using the calculator tool. This can help speed up the application process as you won’t need to search for the same details again.
Give the Pension Credit Calculator a go for yourself or a family member to ensure you’re receiving all the financial support you’re entitled to.
How to submit a claim
You can initiate your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can make a claim any time after you reach State Pension age, but your claim can only be backdated for three months.
This means you could receive up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that period.
You will require:
- your National Insurance number
- information about your income, savings and investments
- your bank account details, if you’re applying by phone or by post
If you’re backdating your claim, you’ll need information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to commence.
Apply online
You can utilise the online service if:
- you have already claimed your State Pension
- there are no children or young people included in your claim