People are being encouraged to apply for Pension Credit (Image: Getty)
Pensioners are being urged to check if they qualify for as there are some key extra perks you can access through the benefit.
The credit tops up a person’s income but claiming the support opens up access to other Government help, with a typical claim worth more than £3,900 a year.
The hugely underclaimed support tops up your income to £218.15 a week if you are single and up to £332.95 for couples.
Extra amounts can be added to your weekly payment depending on your situation, with an extra £81.50 a week if you have a severe disability or an extra £45.60 if you care for an adult.
Consumer finance specialist Sarah Pennells, from Royal London, pointed to four types of extra support you may be able to get if you claim Pension Credit.
She explained: “If you’re entitled to claim Pension Credit, it acts as a gateway to other benefits. So you may be able to claim help with your housing costs through Housing Benefit, or help with your council tax through council tax reduction as well as things like a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over and the .”
Time is of the essence if you are thinking of applying for Pension Credit to bag the , which this year is worth up to £300.
Ms Pennells said: “If you apply for Pension Credit by December 21 you can backdate your claim for three months, and then you’ll be able to qualify for the this winter.
“The is worth between £200 and £300 depending on whether you’re part of a couple and how old you are. Energy bills are still high and many pensioners struggle to pay for their heating, or don’t put it on for fear of an unaffordable bill.”
The eligibility for the payment has changed this year. Formerly it was a universal payment for those of age but now you need to be on a qualifying means-tested benefit as well.
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Claimants can also get help towards NHS costs such as prescriptions, dental treatment, glasses and their transport costs for hospital appointments.
To claim Pension Credit, you have to be of age but you do not need to be claiming your to qualify.
Despite a recent Government campaign and a surge in people applying for Pension Credit, some 760,000 pensioners are still thought to be missing out.
Research from Royal London found almost a third of low income pensioners have not yet checked if they qualify for the support.
More than one in 10 of those who have been informed they do qualify are yet to get their application in.
Ms Pennells said: “Some of the main reasons people miss out on Pension Credit are because they don’t think they would qualify, or they don’t check because they feel too ashamed to admit they need extra help.
“We need to spread the message that there is no shame in accepting help that is available.”