DWP Pension Credit and housing benefit change could mean £300 boost for pensioners
manchestereveningnews.co.ukPrime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have announced that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will collaborate with local councils to ensure older individuals on Housing Benefit are also assessed for Pension Credit eligibility.
This initiative is part of Labour's strategy to increase uptake of the benefit, which also grants access to the Winter Fuel Payment, potentially adding up to £300 annually.
DWP figures show more than 1.1 million pensioners were receiving Housing Benefit by the end of May. Pension Credit is currently offering extra annual financial support of about £3,900 to nearly 1.4 million pensioners.
The Chancellor earlier stated: "We are working with organisations such as Age UK and local authorities. All local authorities." Adding to this, Ms Reeves said: "The Department for Work and Pensions will also bring together the administration of Pension Credit and Housing Benefit, so that pensioner households receiving Housing Benefit will also receive any Pension Credit they are entitled to - something the previous Government deferred for years, despite knowing that the poorest pensioners were missing out".
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