I’m 70, live alone and receive a total income of £800 a month. Can I apply for pension credit? Is it worth it? If so, what do I need to do? I’ve never claimed benefits, so if you can explain the process as well that would be really useful.Pension credit is a key benefit provided by the state which all-too-often goes unclaimed by lower income retirees.
If you have more than £10,000, 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. In addition, those who claim pension credit currently qualify for cost-of-living payments from the government. These payments are designed to help people through the current period of high inflation and are targeted at low-income households. To be eligible for the latest cost-of-living payment, which is worth £301, you need to have been entitled to pension credit between 26 January and 25 February 2023.