TENS of thousands of people on the state pension risk missing out on a vital benefit that can unlock the winter fuel payment due to unfair rules.
Despite being on low incomes they do not qualify for pension credit – even though they are living on less than £218 a week.
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This would normally qualify for the benefit that’s worth up to £3,900 a year and now makes you eligible for the WFP £300 payment.
The Sun was inundated with calls from hard-up pensioners during its Winter Fuel SOS phone-in last week who fear they will be unable to heat their homes without the payment.
Many were left baffled over why they couldn’t get the cash, even though they appeared to fulfil the criteria for claiming pension credit.
Little did they know that new rules brought in from 2019 mean if you’re part of a couple where one is under state pension age (currently 66) and one over, you must apply for Universal Credit instead.
READ MORE ON WINTER FUEL CASH
There are just days left to make a claim for this benefit that could unlock the WFP.
Those applying for pension credit have two months longer.
To get the WFP this year you must have been claiming one of the qualifying benefits between September 16 to 22.
Pension Credit are Universal Credit are two of them.
Claims for most benefits like Universal Credit can only be backdated one month, making the deadline October 18
Pension Credit claims can be backdated up to three months, making the deadline December 21.
It’s understood that tens of thousands could be affected by the mixed-age couples rule. The latest government data suggests that at least 60,000 have claimed UC instead of PC in previous years.
Stricter rules around Universal Credit claims also mean couples are far less likely to successfully get their claim backdated to cover the qualifying period, according to AgeUK.
According to Age UK, you can ask for your Universal Credit to be backdated if: you could not reasonably have claimed earlier because of disability, illness – which must be confirmed by medical evidence – DWP computer failure, or in some circumstances, where a joint claim ends or is refused.
However, in reality, Age UK says it finds the DWP very rarely grants backdating – so a mixed-age couple making a UC claim now is very unlikely to be eligible for a WFP.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Can I get Universal Credit or Pension Credit?
If you’re not sure if you will be able to get Pension Credit or Universal Credit, you can use our handy tool to check what benefits you’re eligible for.
Mixed-age couples can claim Universal Credit until they both reach State Pension age. After they are both aged 66 or over they can claim pension credit.
Universal Credit is one of the seven benefits that can get you the Winter Fuel Payment this year.
There is a chance that if you apply now you might be able to backdate a claim and get the £300 payment this year.
To qualify you must have an active claim for Universal Credit (or other means-tested benefits) during the “qualifying week”, which ran from September 16 to 22.
Universal Credit can be backdated by one month.
This means that the absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment is October 18.
Even if your claim isn’t backdated it’s still worth applying for Universal Credit though.
The benefit itself can be worth thousands of pounds a year and provided your circumstances don’t change, you should qualify for the £300 winter fuel payment next year.
At the moment, if you’re 25 or over you can get £617.60 for you both a month.
If you were already claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit or pension-age Housing Benefit on May 15, 2019, you shouldn’t be affected by the mixed age rule.
But it’s definitely worth bearing in mind that if your circumstances change or you take a break from claiming your Pension Credit or Housing Benefit, it might mean you have to claim Universal Credit instead.
Things that might affect your claim include:
- a change of address to a different local council area
- going abroad for more than four weeks
- a change in the amount of capital you have
- stopping claiming a benefit that helps you qualify for Pension Credit or Housing Benefit
- separating from your partner and then getting back together.
Pension Credit explained
Pension Credit is a benefit which gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re on a low income in retirement.
It can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
You may be able to get extra help of you’re a carer, have a disability, or are responsible for a child.
It also opens up access to lots of other benefits such as the warm home discount scheme, support for mortgage interest, council tax discounts, free TV licences once you’re over 75, and help with NHS costs.
To qualify, you need to be over state pension age and live in England, Scotland or Wales.
If you have a partner, you need to include them on your claim.
Pension Credit tops up:
- your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single
- your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner
However, even if your income is higher, you might still qualify if you have a disability or caring responsibilities.
There is also another element to Pension Credit called savings credit. To get this, you need to have saved some money towards your retirement.
You can get an extra £17.01 a week for a single person or £19.04 a week for a married couple.
If you have more than £10,000 in savings, the government uses a calculation to work out how much it adds to your income.
Every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week. For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week.
How to apply for Universal Credit
Applying for Universal Credit should be relatively easy.
You have to go online and create an account, then there are further steps to take.
Creating an account
Once you’ve created an account you must make a claim within 28 days otherwise you’ll have to start the process again.
If you live with your partner, you’ll both have to create accounts and you’ll join them together when you claim.
If you’re struggling to claim online you can use the Universal Credit helpline which is 0800 328 5644.
What you’ll need
To apply online you’ll need your bank, building society or credit union account details.
On top of this, you’ll need an email address and access to a phone.
If you don’t have these things, you can call the Universal Credit helpline or go to a job centre.
To find your nearest job centre, you can use its website.
After you’ve offered your bank details, you will have to provide your driving licence, passport, debit or credit card and payslip of P60.
In addition, you’ll need to prove how much rent you pay, your earnings, any disability or health condition that affects your work, how much you pay for childcare your savings and any investments, such as shares or a property you rent out.
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