{"id":116005,"date":"2025-12-18T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/?p=116005"},"modified":"2025-12-18T07:17:31","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T07:17:31","slug":"13-million-pensioners-unclaimed-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/13-million-pensioners-unclaimed-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"13 Million State Pensioners Could Be Leaving Thousands in Unclaimed Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>These <strong>benefits <\/strong>are crucial for enhancing the quality of life for pensioners who may not be aware of all the financial support options available to them. Many of these programs are specifically designed for those in need, ensuring that <strong>pensioners <\/strong>with low or limited incomes do not fall through the cracks. However, many remain <strong>under-claimed<\/strong>, suggesting that there is a lack of awareness or understanding of how to access them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pension Credit: A Lifeline for Low-Income Pensioners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most significant benefits available to pensioners is <strong>Pension Credit<\/strong>, a government scheme aimed at providing extra financial support for those on low incomes. Currently, around 1.4 million people in the UK benefit from Pension Credit, with the average recipient receiving an additional <strong>\u00a34,300<\/strong> annually. This benefit not only provides direct financial support but also acts as a &#8220;<strong>passport<\/strong>&#8221; to other forms of assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eligible pensioners can access <strong>Council Tax reductions, free NHS prescriptions<\/strong>, and even <strong>free TV licenses<\/strong> if they are over 75. This support is vital for many elderly individuals, who may struggle to meet the rising costs of living on a fixed income. However, according to the DWP, a significant number of pensioners still fail to claim Pension Credit, often due to misconceptions about eligibility or simply not realising they qualify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To address this, the DWP has been actively encouraging pensioners to use the online <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/pension-credit-calculator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Pension Credit Calculator<\/strong> <\/a>on GOV.UK to assess their eligibility and ensure they are receiving all the support available to them. Alternatively, those without internet access can contact the helpline at<strong> 0800 99 1234<\/strong> for guidance. A simple phone call or online application could provide crucial financial relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">You may get Cold Weather Payments if you get certain benefits. \u2744\ufe0f<br><br>If you\u2019re eligible, you\u2019ll get \u00a325 automatically for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026.<br><br>Find out more at <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ODeRjKxptg\">https:\/\/t.co\/ODeRjKxptg<\/a><br><br>If you live in Scotland, you might\u2026<\/p>&mdash; GOV.UK (@GOVUK) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GOVUK\/status\/2000908521638940724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">December 16, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Support for Health and Heating Costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond Pension Credit, there are several other benefits that UK <a href=\"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/state-pensioners-face-fraud-checks-april\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"113760\">pensioners <\/a>may be missing out on, particularly those related to health and heating costs. The DWP offers assistance with <strong>heating expenses<\/strong>, an essential form of support during the winter months when heating bills can soar. Some pensioners may qualify for this help through means-tested benefits, although eligibility varies depending on individual circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to heating costs, pensioners may be eligible for <strong>Attendance Allowance<\/strong> or <strong>Pension Age Disability Payments<\/strong> if they have a long-term illness or disability. These health-related benefits are designed to support pensioners who require assistance with daily living, enabling them to maintain a degree of independence in their later years. As with other benefits, it is vital for pensioners to check their eligibility to ensure they are not missing out on critical financial aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the ageing population in the UK growing, the importance of ensuring that pensioners receive all the financial support they are entitled to cannot be overstated. As the DWP\u2019s reminder highlights, there are numerous benefits that could provide crucial assistance to the 13 million state pensioners, yet many may not be taking full advantage of these programs. By making small efforts to check eligibility, pensioners can significantly improve their financial wellbeing, ensuring they are not left behind in their later years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A recent reminder from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has brought to light that millions of UK pensioners may be unaware of the financial support they are eligible for once they reach the state pension age. While the State Pension itself provides a stable income, there are numerous other benefits available that could significantly ease the financial burden, especially for those on lower incomes. According to DWP, about 13.1 million pensioners are potentially missing out on benefits like Pension Credit, assistance with heating costs, and Council Tax discounts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":116008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retirement","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116005"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":116006,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116005\/revisions\/116006"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/116008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}