But the qualification rules may be complex, so Martin has reminded people of this and offered his 'rule of thumb' for those who may be worried, saying, 'Don't worry if you think you might not be eligible; they might tell you that you aren't'.
Martin said he had received questions regarding the state pension in full , so he has encouraged those who receive £220 a week to check.He said:"In certain circumstances, people with caring responsibilities, or have certain amounts in savings, may be entitled to Pension Credit even if earning more than the full state pension in total income. It's about total income from everything coming in that I am talking about.
"So, it's my rule of thumb about when it is worth checking, not my rule of thumb about what you will get. Some may get 4p a week and think it isn't worth it. Wrong! Those entitled are often entitled to a whole host of other things, such as the cost of living payment worth hundreds of pounds, council tax reductions, and water bill reductions. If you're aged over 75, your household also gets a free television licence.
He said this is why Pension Credit is vital for older residents to boost their living standards, with older people able to begin their application up to four months before reaching state pension age. They can apply any time after this, but applications can only be backdated by three months.