Just days left for OAPs to claim Pension Credit and qualify Cost of Living Payment
PENSIONERS have just days left to check if they qualify for a Cost of Living Payment (COLP).
Low income OAPs may qualify for Pension Credit which in turns opens the door to a COLP.
In order to qualify for a COLP, Pension Credit claims must be submitted by Friday, May 19. The Cost of Living Payment amounts to £301 which is paid directly into recipients' bank accounts.
Provided a claim is made before May 19, it can be backdated for up to three months so long as the applicant was also eligible to receive it during that time.
Minister for Pensions Laura Trott said: “Pension Credit can make a real difference and I am determined to make sure this support – worth an average of £3,500 a year – is reaching everyone who needs it, particularly as we know how much pressure households across the country have been under.
“Please check if you or your loved ones can claim for this extra support, and if you do it by May 19 you could qualify for the £301 Cost of Living Payment – giving another financial boost to those who need it most.”
Pension Credit is designed to help people over State Pension age and on a low income with daily living costs, though claimants do not need to be in receipt of State Pension to receive it.
It tops up a person's income to a minimum of £201.05 per week for single pensioners and to £306.85 for couples or more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities.
Worth on average over £3500 a year, even a small Pension Credit award can provide access to a wide range of other benefits – such as help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills – in addition to the extra cost of living payments, worth up to £900 this financial year.
