Over 280,000 older households in UK eligible for Pension Credit aren’t claiming

According to the government website, Pension Credit is a means‑tested benefit that “gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income.”

For the 2025‑26 year it tops up weekly income to at least:

• £227.10 if you’re single
• £346.60 for a couple.
  Beyond the cash‑top‑up itself, claiming Pension Credit often unlocks additional support — such as Cold Weather Payments, help with housing costs, a free TV licence for over‑75s, and crucially, winter‑heating help.

The scale of under‑claiming

According to a new analysis by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) covering 2023‑24, a substantial share of households potentially eligible for Pension Credit are not claiming it:

• Approximately 34% (282,000 households) of potentially eligible households were not in receipt of the benefit.
• Around 32% of those non‑claiming households missed out on at least £50/week of Pension Credit — an annual gap of some £1.38 billion.
  In addition, other independent bodies estimate up to 760,000‑880,000 households may be eligible and unclaimed.

Who is most likely to miss out?

The DWP deep‑dive identifies key patterns:

• Households entitled to small weekly amounts (e.g., under £15/week) are far less likely to claim.
• Receipt rates vary widely by geography:
  • Urban areas: ~67% claim rate
  • Majority‑rural areas: ~54% claim rate.
• Regional differences: The highest receipt rate was 83% in Tower Hamlets, London; the lowest was 44% in Cotswold, South West England.
• Households with occupational pensions, no disability benefits, no recent out‑of‑work benefits are more likely to miss out.

What many miss: the added support you unlock

Several recent press reports highlight that many eligible pensioners don’t realise that by claiming Pension Credit they would also qualify for large‑value ancillary payments — in particular winter‑heating help. For example:

• “Hundreds of thousands of older people missed out on vital help with their heating bills last winter – not because they weren’t eligible, but because they never claimed the benefit that unlocked it.” – expressandstar.com
• “Every £1 you claim in Pension Credit may open the door to far more in unlocked help.” – (moneysavingexpert.com)

Why are so many eligible pensioners not claiming?

The research identifies a set of barriers:

• The weekly amounts are sometimes very small, reducing perceived value and hence motivation to claim.
• A lack of awareness of eligibility criteria, or that owning savings/home does not exclude you.
• The application process and back‑dating rules may deter some.
• Distribution of help is uneven (rural vs urban, regional variances) which may reflect access issues or outreach.

How to check if you qualify and apply

1. Check your eligibility: You must have reached State Pension age, live in England/Wales/Scotland, and have income/savings within certain limits.
2. Estimate the benefit: For most single pensioners income below ~£227/week suggests possible entitlement; for couples below ~£346/week.
3. Apply early: You can claim from four months before reaching State Pension age, or any time after. Backdating is limited (typically three months) so delay may cost you.
4. Prepare your documents: You will need National Insurance number, details of pensions, savings, housing costs, partner’s income if applicable.
5. Apply: Via the Government website, by phone (0800 99 1234) or by post if needed.

Key take‑aways for older pensioners

• If you’re over State Pension age and on a low income, don’t assume you’re ineligible just because you have pension savings or own your home – you still might qualify for Pension Credit.
• Even if the amounts look small, claiming can unlock far larger benefits (winter‑heating help, free TV licence, etc).
• Apply sooner rather than later – waiting reduces back‑date cover and lost support.
• If you live in a rural area, or your entitlement estimate is very low, extra care may be needed: local advice services may help bridge awareness/gap.
• Families, carers and disabled pensioners should check because additional top‑ups may apply. For example, older carers (aged 65+) may be particularly under‑claiming.

Final word

With hundreds of thousands of eligible households missing out on Pension Credit, and with the value of the benefit plus unlocked support running into thousands of pounds annually, creating awareness and simplifying access is crucial. For pensioners it’s worth a few minutes to check — the upside is substantial; the downside of not claiming is real.

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