Wandsworth residents urged to check eligibility for pension credit

Published: Friday, October 25, 2024

Wandsworth residents who have reached state pension age are being urged to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit, which could top up their income.  

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Claiming Pension Credit also means eligible residents won’t lose their Winter Fuel Payment this year which is worth up to £300. How much they could receive depends on the value of their current state pension, other income and any savings they may have. 

Wandsworth Council has already had great success encouraging residents to claim Pension Credit. To date, 215 new residents have claimed Pension Credit generating a total of £1,000,000 in additional income so far to those residents. 

It is important to claim Pension Credit before Saturday 21 December 2024 because it means you may automatically be able to: 

  1. Get the Winter Fuel Payment. 

  1. Apply for a free TV licence if you’re 75 or over. 

  1. Get cold weather payments. 

  1. Get help with NHS costs. This can include things like prescriptions, dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments. 

How to claim Pension Credit 

Call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234. 

You will need the following information ready: 

  1. Your National Insurance number.

  1. Information about your income, savings and investments.

  1. The details for the account you want the payment to go to.

Attendance Allowance 
 
As well as claiming Pension Credit you could also apply for Attendance Allowance if you are sick, disabled or have caring needs. This is extra help for people aged 66 and over who need help with personal care or supervision because of illness or disability. Attendance Allowance can be worth up to £108.55 per week. To claim please call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122. 
 
If you would like to talk to someone about claiming Pension Credit, you can get independent advice from Citizens Advice Wandsworth by calling 0808 278 7833 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm) or by filling in their enquiry form: www.cawandsworth.org/get-advice.  Please act now to give time for you to get advice before the deadline. 
 
Alternatively, you can contact Wandsworth Council’s Cost of Living Hub free on 0808 175 3339 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. 
 
For more general information on the Council’s response to the cost of living crisis, please access the Cost of Living Hub at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/hub/