DWP State Pension’s extra payment to people over 80 – how to claim | Personal Finance | Finance

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published the latest statistics showing that the State Pensions Trust currently provides regular financial income to 13 million older people across the country. This payment is available to those who have reached the UK Government’s applicable pension age (currently 66 for men and women) and have made at least 10 years’ National Insurance (NI) contributions.

However, over-80s who do not have a Basic State Pension income or who earn less than £105.70 per week may be entitled to additional funds to help with daily living expenses. The ‘Over 80s Pension’ offers older individuals who are not currently receiving any Basic State Pension £105.70 per week or top up the difference up to this amount. Low-income individuals over the age of 80 may also be eligible for Pension Credit, which could provide more than £4,300 of extra financial support over the 2025/26 financial year.

It is very important to know that if you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, you will not be able to claim the ‘Over 80s Pension’; If you have achieved it, you are eligible to receive the New State Pension.

Guidance on the subject GOV.uk It states that you can claim the over-80 pension if all the following conditions apply:

• You are 80 years old or older
• You do not receive a Basic State Pension or your Basic State Pension is less than £105.70 per week
• You must have resided in the UK for at least 10 of the 20 years (this does not need to be 10 consecutive years) – this 20-year period must include the day before you turn 80 or any day thereafter.
• You were ‘ordinarily resident’ in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or Gibraltar on your 80th birthday or on the date you claim this pension (if later).

If you live in or move to a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, find out about pensions and benefits for UK citizens in the EU, EEA and Switzerland at GOV.UK. Here. Entitlement to over-80s pension does not depend on National Insurance contributions, reports suggest Daily Record.

How to make a claim?

You can obtain a request form from any of the following:

The earliest date you can request is three months before your 80th birthday. You can get the request form sent to you from the Pension Service by calling 0800 731 7898. Full details on GOV.UK Here.

Pension Credit

Some older people believe that because they have savings or are homeowners, they are not eligible for means-tested benefit, which can also provide benefits such as housing costs, winter heating allowance and Council Tax.

A reward of just £1 per week is enough to unlock other support. Pension Credit increases weekly income to a guaranteed minimum of £227.10 per week for single pensioners or £346.60 for couples. It is a tax-free payment for the following people:

• Have reached the age to qualify for Pension Credit, which is the State Pension age, and
• living in great britain

Quick way to check eligibility for Pension Credit

Older people, or their friends and family, can quickly verify their eligibility and get an estimate of what they could receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator at GOV.UK. Here. Alternatively, pensioners can call the Pension Credit helpline directly on 0800 99 1234 to make a claim; Lines are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Expert guidance and advice is also easily available at:

Pension Credit provides additional funding to help people over State Pension age and on low incomes with living costs. It may also provide access to a variety of other benefits. This benefit increases income to a minimum of £227.10 per week for single pensioners and £346.60 for couples; This amount is even higher if the individual is disabled or has caring responsibilities.

Other benefits if you receive Pension Credit

If you qualify for Pension Credit you may also receive other benefits such as:

• Housing Benefit if you rent out the property you live in
• Mortgage Interest Support if the property you live in belongs to you
• Council Tax reduction
• Free TV license if you’re 75 or over
• Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs to hospital appointments
• Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme and access higher Pension Age Winter Heating Payment rates
• Discount on Royal Mail forwarding service if you’re moving house

Mixed-age couples and Pension Credit

In May 2019, the law was changed so that a “mixed-age couple” (a couple where one partner is State Pension age and the other is below that age) was considered a “working age” couple when assessing their entitlement to income-based benefits. This means they cannot claim Pension Credit or retirement age Housing Benefit until they both reach State Pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed-age couple could qualify for more generous State Pension age benefits when only one of them reached State Pension age.

How to use the Pension Credit calculator?

To use the calculator GOV.UKyou will need the following details:

You’ll need the same details for your partner, if you have one. You will be presented with a series of questions with multiple choice answer options.

This includes:

• your date of birth
• Your residence status
• Where do you live in the UK?
• Whether you are registered blind
• What benefits are you currently enjoying?
• How much do you receive each week for any benefits you receive?
• Whether someone gets Carer’s Allowance to look after you
• How much do you get from pensions each week – State Pension, private pension and working pension
• Any employment gains
• Any savings, investments or bonds you own

After you answer these questions, a summary screen shows your answers, allowing you to go back and change them before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then shows how much benefit you can receive each week. All that’s left is to follow the application page link to discover exactly what you’ll get from the DWP, including access to other financial support.

There is also the option to print out the answers you provide using the calculator tool to help you fill out the application form faster without having to look at the same details again. Try the Retirement Credit Calculator for yourself or a family member to make sure you get all the financial support you’re entitled to claim.

Who cannot use the Pension Credit calculator?

You or your partner cannot use the calculator if:

• If you are deferring your State Pension

• owning more than one property

• freelancer

• If you have mortgage repayments or non-rent housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) covered by Housing Benefit

How to make a claim?

You can start your claim up to four months before you reach State Pension age and you can claim at any time after you reach State Pension age, but your claim can only be made retroactive to three months. This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit on your first payment if you are eligible at that time.

You will need:

• Your National Insurance number

• information about your income, savings and investments

• If you are applying by phone or mail, your bank account information

If you are backdating your claim, you will need information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start.

How to apply online

You can use the online service in the following cases:

• You have already claimed your State Pension

• There are no children or teenagers in your request

To check your entitlement, call the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use GOV.UK. Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you can get.