Martin Lewis Explains How to Claim Pension Credit and the Winter Fuel Payment

[@IamJonny-o4v]

I have two pensions. I would much rather have had a Roth 401k throughout my working lifetime. $500/month invested from 25 - 65 at 9% is $2.3mil. I hate my job but can't leave because of I won't get my state pension. What do you think about doing a 70/30 stocks bond ratio?

[@JacobsErick-u8r]

I would avoid the index funds, mutual funds, or specific stocks for the time being. 5% fixed incomes are the safest bet for now. Save your cash for when the market actually shows signs of recovery

[@tatianastarcic]

At a point like this, when the pressure is already on you to retire, its best recommended you seek the services of an advisor, as this allows you make smarter investing decisions.

[@winifred-k9e]

Generally speaking, a good number of people discredit the effectiveness of financial advisor in planning for retirement, For over the past 5years, I’ve had a financial advisor consistently restructure and diversify my portfolio/expenses and I’ve made over $1million in gains… might not be a lot but retirement doesn’t seem so farfetched anymore.

[@MattsMkia]

Could you possibly recommend a CFA you've consulted with?

[@winifred-k9e]

She goes by ‘’Melissa Terri Swayne’ I suggest you look her up. To be honest, I almost didn't buy the idea of letting someone handle growing my finance, but so glad I did.

[@witsend236]

What I don't understand is MPs get the winter fuel allowance, get a free TV licence and also can claim heating on their second homes. Why has this not all been stopped?

[@keithdukes5990]

Because the game is rigged!!!🤔🤨🧐🙄💯

[@malloryviertel1423]

YES !

[@DavidJohnson-yg8qm]

It needs to be means tested

[@tonggao08]

Those second homes which contribute to the "housing crisis".

[@carolmarr6607]

@@witsend236 well the excuse is they need the money for their second homes in London but why they only love in one place at a time.

[@tacca2747]

Thank you Martin Lewis for the great work you do.

[@clivet3252]

What great work does he do?

[@pamvarnsverry2444]

@@clivet3252 He advocates for so many people working and retired every day every second of his life. He brings valuable information to us all.

[@JamieW-o7b]

I am still upset that my hard earned state pension is called a benefit! Deeply insulting!

[@sylviabaxter265]

Yes I feel the same 62years for what😢my deceased husbands work pension taxed, it's our entitlement.

[@suttongirl3067]

It’s only a benefit when it suits

[@birch98]

I think the problem is with you seeing ‘benefit’ as a bad word, which it isn’t. ‘Benefit’ just means a payment from the State or an insurance scheme. State pension is a payment from the State, and works like an insurance scheme, so it is in fact a benefit in both senses of the word.

[@maskedavenger2578]

@@birch98 Yes but the word benefit is now associated with work shy dossers , who have never done a days graft in their lives & expect state handouts . The elderly who have grafted for years , & contributed ,don’t like the term benefit , as they don’t want to be associated with a load of lazy slackers , & who could blame them ?

[@birch98]

@@maskedavenger2578 the only people who associate it with ‘work shy dossers’ are those who are avid consumers of right wing propaganda. The vast majority of people who get various forms of benefit have a genuine need for them. Very few are on benefits just because they are lazy. It’s just a strawman cooked up by greedy rich rightwingers who would rather the money goes to themselves rather than to poor people who are struggling.

[@thealchemistdaughter3405]

My 79 yer old Uncle has a small navy pension of £120 per month.. This disqualifies him from pension credits.. He lives in an old farm cottage in a remote area , the whole house relies on coal or wood for heating/cooking/ .. Coal is now £30 a bag which lasts him four days in winter.. He is using peat imported from Poland at the moment as its cheaper than coal! but doesn’t heat the house as well as coal.. He is still doing odd jobs for farmers and locals but at 79 he cannot continue with physical work much longer.. He doesn’t want to leave his home nor the people he knows but if fuel goes up in price and he doesn’t receive heating allowance he will have to.. He is a proud man who has never asked for anything and I know the thought of what will happen to him this winter is really distressing him.. I am beyond angry at Labour’s cruel and heartless decision to make pensioners like my Uncle suffer through no fault of their own and know at their age there is very little they can do to help themselves.. It’s truly unforgivable🤬

[@thealchemistdaughter3405]

@@pamvarnsverry2444 I’m sorry that happened to your Uncle.. My Uncle certainly does not have that kind of money hidden away and fuel prices have been deliberately inflated above anything a normal pensioner could afford.. My Uncle’s difficult circumstances are not caused by his own greed nor mismanagement of his funds.. My Uncle’s suffering is direct result of Government greed and mismanagement of funds is my point..

[@annealognon7262]

Can he get attendance allowance it's worth £400 per month.

[@thealchemistdaughter3405]

@@annealognon7262 thanks but he doesn’t need any physical help , he’s very fit for his age and still works helping farmers and horses.. Though it’s getting harder and harder for him to do that and come the winter because of the ridiculous price of fuel it will be very difficult for him.. I cannot understand how someone his age who has an income of under £14 thousand per year cannot receive fuel allowance.. He doesn’t want or need any other help.. The whole situation is just wrong.

[@WinterSage99]

Please help your uncle to contact The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity, the website shows contact details for veterans. A casework there may be able to access other benefits he may be entitled to along with financial help from them. Good luck

[@redlady935]

Can you get pension credit if own house?

[@margarethampson9490]

My state pension is £221 a week... The threshold for pension credit is £218.. if you receive the new state pension,, you CANNOT get pension credit.. i worked all my life.. got all my national insurance stamps.. i should just have gone on the dole. I worked till I was 66 .

[@teresasteele5327]

Yep, same with me.

[@mjl2904]

No workplace pension? No private pension?

[@iristhompson1871]

I've just been on pension credit website filled the form to check asked about pension £884 month or £221 if I could figure how to send the screenshot it came back YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PENSION CREDIT THE AMOUNT OF INCOME IS OVER THE AMOUNT so it is actually £3 pounds over £218 is the amount to claim pension credits so people on state pension stand no chance hence why all the many of thousands don't claim but them on pension credits actually get more free rent free council tax, free dental, free glasses so please make it make sense Rachel reeves pension £221 pension credits £218 it's crazy

[@iristhompson1871]

It's disgraceful I'm the same shocking behaviour from this Labour government

[@newchrisusa]

Did you all call them and check?

[@lindawhittle3871]

Why have I worked from 15 to 68 put all stamps on and more to be penalised because I’ve worked.

[@dddddbbb]

Why should millionaire pensioners get free money winter fuel payments while working age people poverty stricken people don't?

[@gavinspiby8304]

@@dddddbbb If you have more than £10k in savings you won’t get the pension credit or winter fuel payment Hardly millionaires 🤦‍♂️😃

[@lindawhittle3871]

@@dddddbbb That’s just plain ridiculous millionaires don’t need it and shouldn’t get it but that’s the governments lackeys doing the governments bidding

[@stephenharrison7534]

How can you benefit for not working?

[@dddddbbb]

@@stephenharrison7534 time

[@gordonhancock5524]

Keir Starmer - get rid of standing charges on Utilites Bills for all pensioners

[@aderemiadeeko8509]

Thank you Martin for continuous awareness of claiming pension credit.

[@Verilyisayuntoyou]

Disgraceful how Labour treats its own people. It's definitely not the old Labour party we all remember.

[@infrasleep]

Very true. Old WORKING CLASS Labour "Means tests means poverty traps" and they debunked the tory urban myths about millionaires on benefits. Now "Labour" create the traps AND the urban myths to go with it. When you consider that when the far right of the Tory party tried to do this in 2016 it was called out; it tells you all you need to know about how far right and fascist "Labour" are today.

[@annewalden3795]

Verily perhaps the Labour Government have inherited a shambles from the previous Conservative government and are trying to do their best to produce a sensible Budget .

[@JANGLEPOP1]

It's Klaus Schwab variation of Global Communism. "You will own nothing and you will be happy".

[@rosemarymegan]

It hasn't been for years.

[@tonyh1515]

Global communist party.

[@jeanrees1502]

6:30 shame on you starmer and labour

[@pooranrashidi9714]

Well done and quit agree I always had in mains that label government work for middle class people not knowing they hate people.

[@ian-zx1tx]

Vote them OUT at every opertunity from now on....

[@kathleenonions478]

Well done and I aree

[@KimWilliamsmixupchannel]

Here here I'm voting green next time as all other parties are the same full of broken promises all just as bad as each other

[@Reformpartyofficial]

@@pooranrashidi9714m

[@andrewhubbard4044]

WHY CANT MPs TAKE A WAGE CUT ALSO STOP FOREIGN AID PLUS STOP THE BOATS THAT WOULD SAVE BILLIONS A YEAR

[@biorbfan]

People who have medical equipment running 24/7 in their homes need an allowance as well. We have a hospital bed and hoist running non stop .

[@jillybe1873]

My grandmother died of hyperthermia under Heath. I can't believe I'm at risk of the same, but UNDER LABOUR. There is no hope. 😢

[@janiceturton7756]

Yes i agree, im a retired nurse. i remember when a young nurse , the elderly were admitted with hypothermia. It seemed to not happen so often after the winter fuel payment was introduced. its false economy ,as it will cause increase health and social care costs in the long run as there will be a big increase in admissions to hospital of the elderly.

[@lynncuthbert2307]

Theyre destroying themselves now. Wait and see.

[@BiblicalBasics]

So sorry to hear about your grandmother, that's an appalling thing to happen. But did you really believe that a Labour government would actually care about you? Really? But there /is/ hope: we all have a duty to care for one another, ie our family and our neighbors. Government are not the solution, they are the problem. (I remember the Heath govt and the Callaghan govt, the three day week, the winter of discontent, the strikes, the food shortages, etc)

[@pamvarnsverry2444]

@@BiblicalBasics I agree with you that we cannot should not rely on the government to have eyes out within our community`s - that responsability falls to us as individuals. An elderly gentleman died doors away from me recently - he was found after a month - I had no idea and those who knew him thought he had gone away to visit friends. However I disagree ref the three day week I was newly married at the time and it was great - 3 days at work 4 days to live my life...

[@pamvarnsverry2444]

@Changedmynameagain I have chopped up wooden furniture before now to feed the livingroom fire - luv it.

[@kaythacker3612]

Why can't you understand just a few pounds over the limit, we can't get it because we paid a private pension, now we are just over the limit, still pay tax on it, those who get it get to pay for nothing , while we pay for everything teeth glasses,etc may be we shouldn't have . Disgusting.

[@missmerrily4830]

The trouble is that for many pensioners the humiliation and the bureaucracy put us off claiming. Back to the begging bowl again as happened with our parents years ago. Even Martin’s rule of thumb is off-putting. He says himself it’s complicated. And I’m afraid it’s not quite as simple as ‘pop online’, and can you imagine how difficult it will be to ‘talk to someone’. Leave us be please. We’re tired. We’re old. We’re fed up and badly let down.

[@patpat4317]

Those claiming pension credit are not the poorest pensioners. Their low income is topped up to £218 (the basic state pension is £221). They also get their council tax paid, housing benefit if they rent, free tv licence, free dental care, warm home discount, cold weather payment and now winter fuel allowance. It’s pensioners who are just above the pension credit limit who get no additional help.

[@IanPigott]

Best comment yet, just shows it pays not to work or save in the UK.

[@hologram1954]

Recently filled in a claim £3.00 over the limit for pension credit.

[@mydogky]

I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of filling in a claim

[@sukichi332]

@@hologram1954 same

[@janetesloan2144]

You got a NO, I did as well in my first year as advised, big no no no

[@janetesloan2144]

They made this £3 on purpose!😢

[@craigrothwell6144]

There has to be a cut off point somewhere.

[@briancrook6716]

Well done, Martin you're a good man

[@petererle5194]

Starmer is a disgrace .

[@headsup8830]

The State Pension for people born 1950 and under is £169.50 NOT £218.00

[@HelenSparshott]

Spot on-- the older you are the less you get 😡

[@adrianappleyard4005]

I could sense your frustration Martin. Keep going. It does matter.

[@matthewjones8977]

The DWP knows who is entitled to pension credit. Just add it to their pension. But the government is happy to save money. I did the pension credit form for my mum. It takes 10 minutes, I urge people to help their parent out as most OAP are not internet savy.

[@pamvarnsverry2444]

Agreed possibly - however they don`t always know what other income you have coming in or what savings you have.

[@AndrewDaley-lr9qg]

Most oap are internt savey actually

[@coderider3022]

@@matthewjones8977 yes but costs of doing that is more than what they give out. Gov can’t do things like that cheaply.

[@janetmalcolm6191]

@@AndrewDaley-lr9qg No a lot are not still good with internet. These people fall through the cracks.

[@jacquelinetaylor2376]

As I understand it if I hadn’t volunteered to keep up full payments on my NI which would give me a full pension on retirement.But now as a Single person it takes me (£2)over the limit to be able to get the pension credit and all its advantages.Also being born in 1953 not only did I and others have the retirement age extended so we had to work longer before retiring .but we are now being penalised it seems for being productive workers in our former years .

[@katiedakin8939]

I contacted the winter fuel folks and the lady laughed and said sorry your a few pence over ...glad it was a joke to her x

[@Elvis_Hogan]

That's absolutely awful, I'm sorry to hear that. :(

[@Lomie32]

You should complain about her, that’s despicable 😢

[@RAFchurchlawford4469]

Was it an English laugh?

[@valcollins4943]

How nasty 😢

[@butlerpa100]

Unfortunately the elderly who are entitled can’t fill out the paperwork

[@FredFox-m9v]

Most pensioners are poor about £11500 per year plus whatever people with small work pensions have got, if anything. Whereas train drivers get £65000 per year plus their latest inflation busting Starmer rise. Shame on Labour,shame on Cruella Reeves.

[@dddddbbb]

Actually there are multiple other age groups with equal or higher poverty in the uk.

[@FredFox-m9v]

@dddddbbb the thing is pensioners no longer have the chance to change their situation because of their age. Other younger people can just better themselves and get a job, which many do not want to do. I have personal experience of people of several generations, with this lifestyle, who are quite happy if they don't have to get out of bed in the morning. I grew up on a council estate also but didn't take that path out of choice and hard work.

[@shytalk7654]

And the Energy company chief executives earn more bonuses in a year than the average pensioner would get in 20years of state pension!! People before profit! Take back control over privatised Energy companies!! Bring back the “Electricity Board and the Gas and Water Boards!! Bring down the inflated price of privatised energy! Don’t subsidise them with these payments!!!

[@MaxMisterC]

Train drivers do not owe it to pensioners to accept derisory pay for their work. Blame the rich, the powerful &/or the politicians... & stop with that nonsense!

[@FredFox-m9v]

@MaxMisterC £65000 salary is not derisery. You are having a laaarf arn't you. The money removed from pensioners on their pensions that are a sixth of the train drivers comes directly from the public purse. Train drivers have got the money that was removed from the pensioners via the union paymasters of the Labour party's inflation beating pay demand. I hope they think about that when their grannies are freezing to death, with no money to pay the now Increased by 10% fuel bills. Shame ! Train drivers are rich in comparrison with most pensioners and powerful with their greedy unions behind them. Returning to the 70's again it seems, we tried that the country was bankrupt, negative productivity, our products could not compete abroad and public services went to the dogs. All because of union greed and all allowed under the Labour Party, with Callerhan and Wilson. I remember, I was there.

[@mariadange06]

FFS UK has freezing Winters with bitter cold winds!!! The government is killing off the elderly with hypothermia... smh

[@AmazinglyAwkward]

Winters are more wet these days... Hardly snowed last year, I only remember about 3 days in February and a couple of days in December, winters used to be much worse back when I was young and I'm only 30!

[@mariadange06]

@@AmazinglyAwkward Compared to South of France those winds from the North in UK are brutally cold. 🥶

[@elaineedmond789]

He is doing it on purpose

[@mariadange06]

@@elaineedmond789 Definitely to cul the elderly as they did with Cv💉

[@AmazinglyAwkward]

@@mariadange06 compared to the south of France? That's essentially the Mediterranean, of course the UK is colder 🤣🤣 can't tell if you're being serious

[@peteypops]

There shouldn’t be any poor pensioners…unless they are illegal entrants…

[@jagjitsaundh3571]

Just Don't vote for Labour Next time in any Election

[@paulineplatts4607]

Too late, the damage will have been done

[@janetmalcolm6191]

​@@paulineplatts4607Doesn't matter. Reform and Tories have always wanted to shrink the state. That means cut benefits so no better off voting for any of the others. Both of these parties would like the NHS and benefits gone completely.

[@logothaironsides2942]

Some people wont claim because they feel uncomfortable asking for money even if they need it . Some dont feel comfortable to use computers and some dont want to fill in documents. There should be a pensioner help service that people can use when they cant manage to claim on their own.

[@Glory3823]

Agree pensioners need help with Claiming but please do not let pride get in your Way many i know are feel ashamed dont Be please if Goverment owns it to you ❤

[@gandhi9936]

There already is a pension help service..

[@peterdockrill9653]

A guy who frequents the cafe where I work has no shame about claiming and he lives in a 2 million pound bungalow.

[@Glory3823]

@@peterdockrill9653 wow really

[@Daisy-tl2lh]

some are just too old and sick; some can't afford computers or mobile phones and if they did wouldn't know or even see how they work, not everyone has family and friends they can trust with their personal details ... many elderly will die this winter due to neglect by the State ... shame on Starmer and his henchmen!!

[@lindawarner9627]

If you are on the new state pension you can't claim pension credit.

[@bernadetteshinton6236]

I know I tried.

[@user-bu7qv7fi9f]

I am not eligible for Pension Credit but asked if I could get any other benefits. The answer is YES! I get help with rent and Council Tax. JUST ASK!

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Thanks, it's confusing to many

[@carolewynn9407]

@@user-bu7qv7fi9f Single persons council tax is the next thing on their agenda to cancel.

[@craigrothwell6144]

@@evelynrakatan19 Looks like you will have to move then.

[@trevorclarey3336]

I've paid full N.I. & I am worse of than people who didn't pay anything , work that out .

[@craigrothwell6144]

I try to tell people that but pensioners think they ALL paid in, Those that did not are stealing from those that did but they refuse to see it :)

[@anitachisnell8412]

The DWP know what people have coming into their accounts, they don’t need to make it so hard for elderly people to claim their entitlements.

[@jonathankay8079]

Why don’t they just stop winter fuel payments for any pensioners receiving over the equivalent of the national average wage in private pensions or investment income. ? That would be fair. So anyone with an income of over £34000 doesn’t receive the payment.

[@mjl2904]

Theoretically some pensioners would reduce their pension income to below £34,000 and then still claim the £200 tax free lump sum in their account (winter fuel allowance)

[@jonathankay8079]

@@mjl2904 That’s a good and valid point but it’s not so easy to reduce your income without being fraudulent and if you have a private pension the Inland Revenue have all the details on file. I don’t think those receiving over 34000£ would bother to commit fraud for 200£. We are talking about those in difficulty. I am not a pensioner myself but I think the proposal is wrong also ethically because it discriminates against those who have done the right and proper thing to obtain the full old age pension and then they are penalised as someone who behaved recklessly and irresponsibility is awarded Pension Credit and ended up in a better position.

[@pamvarnsverry2444]

@@mjl2904 the Winter Fuel Allowance is an across the board payment made straight into our bank accounts - no questions asked - no effort from us - whereas claiming Pension Credit does!! and people can be lazy and some just don`t want to share any information on their finances with the government or who ever is filling the form out on their behalf - FEAR stops a lot of people. FEAR of losing what they are already being given and some smart scam artist ( or family member ) robbing them blind.

[@RobMedvedev]

34k ? You joking !!! What about paying my 12k rent a year? And my council tax etc... multiple bills. I'm on minus every month !!!!!34k

[@malloryviertel1423]

Thank you so much Martin Lewis .

[@Terry.W]

My 95 year old neighbour has a very small private pension and that puts her £1.50 over the limit..so she can't claim the Winter fuel payment.. thanks a lot Starmer..😡

[@roseannedrysdale2199]

Martin please keep up the good work..

[@jeffreyroberts7438]

If you are on a full pension you are £3 over the limit so you can’t claim anything! Which will be the majority of pensioners.

[@simmorg290]

The old state pension is £169.50 a week for people who retired before 2016 so they would qualify unless they had other income to put them over. About 75% of pensioners are on the old state pension.

[@jeffreyroberts7438]

@@simmorg290 wrong, 75% aren’t on the lower pension. 8 million of the 10 million are over the benefit limit by £2, so won’t qualify for the heating allowance. Those are the facts. When brown thought about means testing for benefits, he found any money saved would be eaten up by paying civil servants to do the paperwork, and would actually cost more!

[@simmorg290]

@@jeffreyroberts7438 I got the figure from a Financial Times article which came from a freedom of information request from the DWP. Could you provide your source please? Also there are about 13 million pensioners not 10 million.

[@brianmcmanniman4501]

Martin for chancellor. he could run the country better than these Muppets.

[@Margaret-ud6qb]

Worked till I was 72 ,this is outrageous.

[@tonyrea9113]

Pensioners who get full state pension £220 are refused pension credit because the limit to claim it is £218

[@keithbrookes4349]

Never vote Labour again

[@veronicathornton4118]

0.01p over the limit you can't get pension creditable

[@melgrant7404]

Which means the poor are most affected.

[@Glory3823]

Crafty sods

[@rosiemccrindle2271]

The Government should be responsible for ensuring pensioners get all they are entitled too.

[@pamvarnsverry2444]

They do but we have to be pro- active and claim some of the benefits available to us. It won`t come to us!

[@craigrothwell6144]

Too many get money they are not entitled to.

[@pamvarnsverry2444]

@@craigrothwell6144 We are talking pensioners here so we can only claim benefits we are eligible to claim???? If as I suspect you feel that the government is allocateing too much to pensioners - that`s an issue for you to take up with your local M.P`s.

[@craigrothwell6144]

@@pamvarnsverry2444 The 87 year old I do shopping for has never paid a penny in, always cash in hand, He gets a state pension and is very happy!

[@janetmalcolm6191]

​@@pamvarnsverry2444What is available should be very clear to pensioners. Too simple that isn't it!

[@bt1163]

If they know the numbers who hasnt claimed but are entittled, why dont they PAY THEM instead of danggling the carrot ?

[@pamvarnsverry2444]

Agreed however you can`t complain if you cannot be bothered to claim - the gov saves even more win win.

[@briankelly5816]

They hope they won't realise so then they won't get there money and the government will get it back

[@doreenhollywood7459]

Older people often have vision problems as well as the stress of life. Filling in a form can be daunting at the best of times and 230 pages would certainly put me off claiming. I did try once and was 30p above the qualifying rate

[@craigrothwell6144]

So 30p better off than many.

[@desgardner7169]

People forget that many pensioners can not use a computer and some cant even use the phone and that's a fact, many of these lonely old souls are just that very lonely people, I am 81 and I am just over top, I pay £88 a month income tax. my wife and I worked all our working life on low income, life's a struggle, soon we will be out of it ... does anybody care! I bet the train drivers don't or Mr Starmer and the rest of the government!

[@craigrothwell6144]

I am a train driver and I don't care, You worked for low pay and now you are reaping the rewards, You won the race to the bottom if that is any consolation, Well done.

[@desgardner7169]

@@craigrothwell6144 Thank you for answering, enjoy your train driving skills and your wealth! Take care....god bless you!

[@craigrothwell6144]

@@desgardner7169 Thank you, I do and I will :)

[@johnmoncrieff3034]

If you are paying £88 /month income tax then you must have an income of in the region of £680 per month, as the first £12500 is tax free then the rest is at 20%

[@desgardner7169]

@@johnmoncrieff3034 If it was £680 a month I would be happy with that!!!! but its nowhere near that, as I said just who gets my £88 and for what? Have you ever tried to get in touch with the tax office to tell them you are paying too much tax? Have a nice day.

[@vinparaffin6082]

Why council tax bands A to C ! Some pensioners might be on a basic pension, but living in a D,E or F banded property!!

[@davidklyne5134]

If you extend it beyond Band C you are just going to include a lot of relatively well off pensioners which means any savings from this change will disappear. Also older people in more expensive properties tend to be owner occupiers so have the option to down size and realise some of the equity in their larger house which is generally not an option for people living in lower value properties many which will be rented?

[@MrMan-f9c]

We live in a band D bungalow (one bed) ,our trailer tent is almost the same size ! A mate in a 3 bedroom house in the next village is also band D as is our next door neighbour who has two bedrooms hows that worked out? You could challenge it but knowing the council they would increase ours to make up the loss from my mate .Its not size its area unfortunately i dont mean floor size or we would be band A

[@splottcardiff3993]

Yes agreed. Maybe asset rich cash poor.. very common 😢

[@connie3632]

Live in a band d rented property. A friend I have pays 30£ tax per month she's in band a property how is that fair..

[@coderider3022]

@@vinparaffin6082 my area is full of these people. Cash poor , asset rich and paying high council tax.

[@splottcardiff3993]

I personally know some individuals who would likely be eligible but would never claim due to the perceived fear of how it may affect their main state pension.. very sad.

[@lasminstluce944]

This is a disgrace.We pensioners work all their lives & those who never put nothing in come ,& enjoy all what we should get.

[@nikkihamilton4374]

How can this man …married to Cooper…just sit there and say nothing?

[@victoriaburke4824]

Anyone on New State pension Can't get Winter fuel payments

[@sidsod1616]

800,000 not claiming ? 243 page form to fill out that's why.

[@sukichi332]

Put Starmers wage down to state pension see how he gets on, he spends more on lunch, the chancellor is so out of touch as well,they should be ashamed

[@Sue-t3h]

No point in anyone on the full new state pension even looking. You will live on the extra £2 per week without heat.

[@marshacurtis4814]

I am 77 and did not know l could get pension credit, l could have claimed it from pension age which then was 65 how far back can you claim for please

[@jamesgreen807]

Immigrants get FREE HOTELS WITH HEAT!!!

[@Ofelas1]

​@@jamesgreen807 I'mmigrants...waris costing billions

[@WinterSage99]

Sadly no back dating. It starts on the day you apply if eligible.

[@susannewton3757]

If you apply your entitlement is from the date of claim but it can be backdated for 3 months. If you can show good cause for the delay that can be up to 12 months unless you can show official misdirection which usually means someone from Social Security told you, you weren’t entitled when you were. Best thing is to ask them.

[@PeterBarton-m3r]

Yes fill all the forms in and you dont get it but then they know everything about you

[@wineweasel]

They need to know what else they can tax

[@janetmalcolm6191]

They know now. 30 years ago plus they could look at your bank account. A work colleague lent a friend £10. When she had it back into her bank they said where did it come from. What source!

[@elaineashdown4012]

Why have they not used Housing benefit instead of pension credit as the marker for who gets the fuel allowance. Housing benefit is given to the pensioners who are on a low income so it stands to sense that they would need the help of the fuel allowance. This way there wouldn't be millions of pensioners losing out because they haven't been able to claim pension credit because they are pennies over the limit.

[@janetmalcolm6191]

Yes this is a good point.

[@99upsidedown66]

This sickens me... I'm 71 and worked up until last December and only get the state pension. I've worked all my life to qualify for the full pension, however, the state pension is just £6.00 over the limit to claim pension credit! This also means I loose all the other benefits too (to include cost of living payments, glasses voucher, etc etc)! What really winds me up is someone who hasn't worked all their life (claimed unemployment benefit for years etc) and is behind on their stamps, can claim pension credit to top up their pension, and claim all the other benefits too... How can that be fair?

[@Mark3ABE]

It is not fair. It is a glaring injustice. However, most MPs are of very little intellect and have very little experience of the real world. They live in a safe, protected bubble, with their generous Parliamentary salaries and other allowances and benefits (none of which, of course, they propose to cut). They are simply not capable of grasping the issues involved.

[@FnXMusique]

If you're a pensioner and struggling in any way, you go the attendance allowance route. THIS is what unlocks pension credit. The CAB is the best source of advice on this.

[@marierobinson3935]

My mum has tried twice to claim PC since dad died but has been denied, she has a basic pension and no savings, dwp are a law unto themselves..

[@wineweasel]

New pensions get no help £3 over the limit apparently unless she is disabled or a carer

[@carolewynn9407]

@@marierobinson3935 As of July there are just under 2000 pensioners who have been under paid pension following death of a spouse, please enquire for your mum on the govt pension website. The DWP underpaid over 200,000 people and have been trying to track them down for 3 yrs. After my mother in law died we were informed they owed her £51,000, too late for her. Definitely try for your mum.

[@marierobinson3935]

@@wineweasel mum has difficulty walking, mild heart failure and dwp dont care, she has a basic pension, shebused to receive PC when dad was alive but she told them to cancel it as she then had to pay rent?? dad has since past away so shes on her own and still the refuse to pay her!!!

[@janetmalcolm6191]

​@@marierobinson3935Go to a place where you can get help. Turn2Us, a local Hub or Citizens Advice. They can go through everything. Do a proper check. .

[@georgeomahoney3842]

Hey the claim form but you'll need an expert to help you full it in.

[@coderider3022]

Is that on purpose ?

[@KW-ro5ow]

Age Concern help with benefits.

[@vins6036]

Martin Lewis for our Chancellor.

[@mikewinston8709]

HMRC and DWP both know, via working life NI contributions, who is owed. The AI and IT is all in place. The government refuses to act.

[@melgrant7404]

Now if you have less contributions you will be better off.

[@TimothyBergin]

Why on earth should pensioner's have to apply for anything, surely we automatically get a decent amount to live on and pay our bills and feed ourselves including heating?

[@seanstaunton6461]

Your doing ok Ed and now your missus is bringing home lots of bonuses

[@suebradford5758]

Thank you 👍

[@BonnyRoni]

He quotes per year but the chart says per week

[@tonyshortland8812]

I expect he's clear in his own mind, about it

[@mariadange06]

Do the maths...

[@eveelliot2109]

Claiming is easy on phone or on- line. But, DWP just don't pay up!

[@dragonfly6908]

Sick of listening to the smug Rachel Reeves telling pensioners to apply for Pension Credit, she knows full well that a substantial amount of them will not be entitled to it.

[@Christmascancelled]

He means weakly not yearly

[@Haberdashery22]

Yes --- I wish he would re-do this or correct what he said. Thank you.

[@wendybutler4892]

A lot of pensioners are not able to use the internet, some are coping with early dementia, some have no family to help them . And the paperwork is completely complex.

[@johntruman4397]

PENSION CREDIT FORM 24 PAGES LONG AND HOW MANY BANK STATMENTS?

[@briantyler689]

Like Hundreds of Thousands of Pensioners I cannot get pension credit due to been a few pence over the limit.

[@AlexisScott-g9z]

If you get the full New State Pension and nothing else you're actually worse off than you would be on Pension Credit because you won't get any passport benefits like winter fuel allowance. You'd still probably be eligible for help with rent and council tax but have to fill in forms to get more help with glasses and dental costs.

[@TeresaConstable]

I agree .why do goverment say they have no money but still rake fast amount for each of themselfs for their second homes .

[@user-do6jp1zg5r]

Why is the government not automatically giving this automatically. They already know how much every pensioner gets, why have to claim for it? You say, it also includes non-pension income, well they still know their total income because they have to fill in a self assessment form. So they already know each and every person who deserves it, yet choose not to pay it and put a hurdle to have to claim it. Those who voted Labour, this is on YOU!

[@jeanetteeftekhar6762]

The problem now is there are over 200 questions, and that will then take time to be processed. There should not be a need for pension credit. The state pension in UK is the worst in the worst in Europe. People who have a small pension having worked all your life, then you won't get thus allowance.

[@carolineyates4746]

To get pension credits you have to have a pension that is less than £218.15wk if single or £332.15wk for a couple. The basic pension now is £221.20 a week for single person so you cant get pension credits. The only way you can get pension credits is being in receipt of disability or getting attendance allowance as they are not means tested. So people on basic pension of £884.20 4 weekly for single person cannot get pension credits

[@pamvarnsverry2444]

Pension credit is a top up scheme for those of a certain age and receiving the old basic state pension.( not the new state pension )

[@johntyjp]

If the Government want to cut their spending, why don't they legislate to make the power companies cut the fuel bills to low income. Pensioners ?🧐

[@craigrothwell6144]

Or everyone!

[@freya7pc]

No amount of shouty advice to claim Pension Credit alters the fact that pensioners who worked 35 years or more and paid into the system can't get help, but those who didn't work can. This affects the working class on minimum wage the most, perhaps in the gig economy with no work pension, and possibly paying rent- they are the ones who are slipping through the cracks and not getting the help they need.

[@JawedMaher]

thanks martin for all the information

[@DavidOwen-u1m]

Having worked from the age of 14 delivering papers and working until i was 65 i am now penalized for being prudent and having a small personal pension i wasted my vote for this labour government

[@garry843]

How many civil servants are being laid off who are no longer needed to administer the scheme.

[@dragonfly6908]

Apparently there are over 200 questions you have to answer online to find out if you are entitled to Pension Credit.

[@Test_Card_Tom]

At the moment its believed almost 1million pensioners don't claim pension credit to which they are entitled. However, if all the additional 1 million pensioners who are entitled to pension credit were to claim it the cost of paying PC (and the WFA) to them would outweigh the amount being saved by the removal of the winter fuel allowance to 10 million pensioners. In other words the government are lying to you.

[@alisonlaing5626]

Doesn,t bare thinking about how many "Will" die because of this situation etc............there,s more than enough .OAP,S that die "each" year through the cold weather.........maybe this will make the numbers "go through the roof"..........lets hope not.........

[@mariachester950]

You will never see a coroner statement died because of hyperthermia....its affects hearts and blood pressure so strokes....heart attacks....despicable starmer...the granny harmer...

[@tonyh1515]

Thank you martin.

[@helenswan705]

your local job centre is also the place to claim pension credit - or ask about it. If you'd like to talk to someone face to face, get an appointment at the Job Centre.

[@drstrangelove4998]

We have a state pension which is the lowest in the EU by HALF or less. This includes Spain, France, Germany and even Greece. Meanwhile MPs crocodile tear, ‘it was a difficult decision’ whilst we are in the worst cost of living crisis in living memory.

[@Fortune-z1i]

Martin Lewis should be shouting on high that if anyone is entitled to Pension Credit they should be getting it automatically directly from the DWP. Also our most elderly are not on the new rate of State Pension they, those who were born before 1951 or 1953 are on a basic pension of £169 and were excluded the new rate of pension. Can he not demand the question why? Also he knows that the basic State Pension is over the threshold rate for eligibility for Pension Credit.

[@petergordon4525]

The DWP doesn't know how much savings you have (if any) to be able to calculate the interest. Nor how much private pension you might have

[@live.co.uk1955]

If a couple on the new state pension both get full amount £220 a week they can't have pension credit, even if they have no private pension or savings, pension not on pension credit pay full rate and water rated full dental costs full house insurance the only thing is you have a bus pass I don't use mine even though I don't drive my husband drives but we are thinking of selling the car because our old house needs some repairs a damp course we have been quoted £5,000 so will have to have a loan to pay for it, my husband is asthmatic and the walls are wet ,we have never claimed a benefit always worked my husband 51 years out doors , they can stuff the heating allowance sick of people running us old ones down, we will cope we always have .

[@bobmcdermott9535]

@@petergordon4525but inland revenue does!

[@janetmalcolm6191]

​@@petergordon4525They will ask if you want to claim anything and check it. They want proof.

[@latitudeash]

Why can’t the government look at their records and see who is getting less than the outlined and automatically give the money? They have all the data.

[@gordonhancock5524]

Pensioners should not have to pay tax that would help a great deal

[@MrMan-f9c]

The poorest cannot claim pension credit .I get 429 a fortnight so eligible but my mrs also gets her pension and could claim it but couples have a lower threshold so if we were living under the same roof but not married we could claim it .poor you say ,yes those without pension credit pay out more rent and dental fees glasses etc so end up poorer

[@pamvarnsverry2444]

I am loving this if I can`t have it no one else can attitude I am reading in so many comments - even when you personally don`t need it. And we all have differring circunstances - many own their homes out right ( no rent to pay ) this is why there are 235 questions on the form for pension credit.

[@NinaSonghurst]

Thank you Martin Lewis for the amazing help.

[@hedgehogwildlifejunction9119]

Please try to get it, i thought in for a penny in for a pound. DID not think i was eligible, but turns out i got savings pension credit, not guaranteed, BUT i get 50.00 a month which gives me other things. PLEASE JUST GO FOR IT. family help your family to get it.

[@WinterSage99]

If you're not already in receipt of Council Tax Support, please check, while you still have all your financial evidence to hand.

[@drstrangelove4998]

Our pensions, the government has made clear, is NOT an entitlement as Martin suggests, but a ‘privilege’ which is a big difference. Big deal, it’s on average 50% lower than EU pensions in Germany and France, but astonishingly also Spain and Greece and the UK is supposed to be the fifth strongest in the world.

[@anitachisnell8412]

The size of that Pension Credit form is a deterrent for many to not try and go for it too.