The state pension system was amended in 2016, and around 100,000 pensioners are now receiving Pension Credit, which tops up their weekly income to £218 – check if you’re eligible
State pensioners born before a specific year could be entitled to a state pension increase worth £2,991 every year.
This is down to a change made to the state pension system eight years ago, which has resulted in millions of pensioners receiving less than they need to live on. But with one straightforward claim, those within certain age groups could secure an additional £2,522 – plus some extra benefits.
The state pension system underwent changes in 2016. The basic state pension provides £169.50 to those who retired before 2016, specifically men born before April 6, 1951 and women born after April 6, 1953. These individuals would have reached retirement age prior to April 2016 and were therefore placed on the old basic state pension system, receiving a total of £8,814 per year.
The new state pension system offers significantly more – £221.20 per week, or £11,502 annually, reports the Express. So, anyone born after the aforementioned dates will automatically receive the much more generous new state pension. While older pensioners cannot switch from the old basic state pension to the new state pension, anyone on the old state pension system can boost their weekly income to nearly the same amount using Pension Credit.
Pension Credit increases your income to £218 a week, meaning you’d receive £11,336 in total, a top-up of £2,522 per year, if you’re on the older basic state pension and have a weekly income lower than that. Plus, you’d receive your £300 Winter Fuel Payment again as those claiming Pension Credit will continue to get the payment under the new system, bringing your total to £2,822.
You’d also be eligible for a free TV Licence worth £169.50, taking your total boost to £2,991.50 – this doesn’t include any potential council tax discounts or housing benefit you might be entitled to, depending on your local authority.
You can make a claim by ringing the Pension Credit hotline on 0800991234.
