Citizens Advice Watford urges those eligible for Pension Credit to apply by 5th March. Applying by this date may give you a cost of living payment of £299. 

Citizens Advice Watford is drawing attention to the window – as residents may not be aware there is still an opportunity to get the cost-of-living payment.

National figures showed that last year there were 850,000 households eligible for Pension Credit who were not claiming – missing out on a combined total of £1.8 billion.

£299 Payment – eligibility

To be eligible for Pension Credit, you must have reached State Pension age, not have too much income or savings and live in the UK.

You can own your home and still be working, as long as your income isn’t too high. Unlike the State Pension, you don’t need a national insurance record. It is worth more than £3,500 per year on average.

Pension Credit claims can be backdated for up to three months. This means applications made before 5th March could allow applicants to receive the third cost-of-living payment, worth £299.

The tax-free cost-of-living payment itself does not need to be applied for. It is paid directly to people who received Pension Credit for any day between 13th November 2023 and 12th December 2023.

To enquire about your eligibility call the Pension Service helpline: 0800 99 1234 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday), or use the Government’s free online Pension Credit calculator here.

‘People are missing out’

Emma Burgham, Chief Officer at Citizens Advice Watford, said  “The Government is making a cost-of-living payment available and people are missing out. People not claiming Pension Credit will miss out on the benefit and also the extra support on top.”

“The main thing, if in doubt, apply. People can come to us if they have any queries, but they don’t have a huge amount of time.”

Anyone in Watford needing free, independent, impartial and confidential advice can call Citizens Advice Watford 0800 144 8848.

The charity’s opening times and contact details are available at: Get Advice – Citizens Advice Watford (cawatford.org.uk)