Martin Lewis says 800k must take action now to get ?300 payment
Martin Lewis today warned of the ‘worst winter’ for people as the first payments of the £300 cost of living support arrived in bank account - and said there was a group of 800,000 people who need to take immediate action to get it. From today (October 31) the Department for Work and Pensions has started sending out the money to some of the poorest people in the country.
The money is intended to help people pay for the essentials this winter - and money-saving expert founder Martin Lewis was appearing on Good Morning Britain today to talk about the scheme. More than 8 million people on benefits are set to get the cash automatically - but Mr Lewis said there are more than 800,000 pensioners who could be eligible but don’t know about a key ‘gateway’ benefit they’re eligible for.
The government has estimated that many people do not get Pensions Credit - which is for some of the poorest people in the country and could be worth an extra £3,500 a year. People who are claiming this benefit get the cost of living payments - but unlike other benefits they need to apply for it.
Mr Lewis said this year there was less help available for people in general - which meant it was likely to be even harder than last winter. He told GMB host Richard Madeley: “Quite simply, if you contrast it to the last winter on energy bills, at least while the rates that we pay for energy are lower now than at this time last year at this time last year, which was the worst winter we’ve ever seen for energy bills. Then across the winter, from October to March, people were getting that £400 state support.
“So that was 66 to 67 quid a month being paid to every household. That isn’t happening this year. So you factor that in and you look for somebody on typical bills. And even though last winter was, you know, the most horrendous year, which we were all talking about in catastrophic terms in the run up to it. Actually, the typical household will be paying more month by month this coming winter than they did last winter.”
Martin Lewis urged OAPs and their families to check if they're eligible for pensions credit - in order to get the £300 cost of living payment
Mr Lewis said there was a key message on the £300 cost of living payment - namely that some people eligible don’t get it automatically. He said: “Today is the start of the second cost of living home for the 8 million people on the cost of living payment for the 8 million people on means testing benefits that will be paid between now and the 19th of November. It counts if you were if you were on benefits a couple of months ago, so that will be coming in. That’s another £300 and there will be one more of those payments next spring.
“Most important message I have for people about that cost of living payment is really important. Well, on most benefits, you either get it or you don’t. At this point there’s a benefit called pension credit, which is specifically for lower income pensioners. And on that one you can back date the claim for three months, which means if you don’t get pension credit and you’re eligible for it, you can still get that extra 300 quid. Even if you were to claim now or next week or the week after. And there are nearly a mil million pensioners in this country not getting that absolutely crucial benefit my rule of thumb on it.
“Whether they’re eligible is quite simple. If you’re a single pensioner earning less than £220 a week or you’re a pensioner couple earning less than £320 a week. Then you should check out if you’re eligible, so that’s your total income. Call the pension credit helpline and ask them if you’re eligible. I’m not saying you will be. I’m saying you may be and it’s worth checking because that could be worth thousands of pounds and this current cost of living benefit payment, you may still get it, even if you don’t claim pension credit yet.”
How do you claim pensions credit:
You can start your application up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age. You can apply any time after you reach State Pension age but your application can only be backdated by 3 months. This means you can get up to 3 months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.
You can use the online service if you have already applied for your State Pension. Click here to apply[1].
To apply by phone call the Pension Credit claim line: 0800 99 1234. A friend or family member can call for you if you cannot use the phone. For more information on claiming click here[2]
References
- ^ Click here to apply (%20https)
- ^ For more information on claiming click here (www.gov.uk)