Help for pensioners

Help for pensioners
Help is available not just for people of working age but also for older people whose lives may have been affected by the global economic conditions.

Pension Credit
If you are 60 or over you may be entitled to Pension Credit. Pension Credit guarantees everyone aged 60 and over an income of at least £124.05 a week for single people or £189.35 a week for couples. From April 2009 the rate for a single pensioner will increase to £130 a week.

You can now claim Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit in one call, with no need to fill in any forms. To apply call 0800 99 1234 or textphone 0900 169 0133.

State Pension
The basic State Pension is being increased by 5 per cent from April 2009. This means that if you are getting a full basic State Pension your weekly income will go up from £90.70 to £95.25.

Christmas Bonus
Most pensioners will have received an extra £60 Christmas Bonus payment in January. Others will get it by the end of March.

Winter Fuel Payments
You may get a Winter Fuel Payment to help pay for keeping warm this winter if you were aged 60 or over during 15–21 September 2008 and you normally live in the United Kingdom. You could get £250 if you are aged 60–79 or £400 if you are aged 80 or over. This is paid automatically if you are getting a state pension or other social security benefit (excluding Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Child Benefit).

For more information call the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline, 08459 151 515, textphone 0845 601 5613.

Cold Weather Payments
Cold Weather Payments for this year have been tripled to £25 per week. These payments become payable when the average temperature where you live is zero degrees Celsius or below over several consecutive days during the period from 1 November 2008 to 31 March 2009. You do not need to apply. You’ll get the payment as long as you qualify.

Pensioners may also be eligible for free energy-saving improvements to their homes, such as insulation, and other support. The Warm Front scheme offers up to £2,700 worth of central heating and energy efficiency measures to low-income and pensioner households.

To find out more, contact the ACT ON CO2 advice line on 0800 512 012.

In addition, energy suppliers now offer lower ‘social tariffs’ to their most vulnerable customers and are planning to bring the number of these discounted accounts to around 600,000 by the end of the year. The discounts can be worth £200 to £250 a year. For more information contact your energy supplier.

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