DWP urges older people to apply for ‘passport’ benefit even if they only get awarded a penny

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that it received an estimated 10,000 new claims for Pension Credit in one week during a nationwide drive encouraging older people to check eligibility for the ‘gateway’ benefit worth more than £3,300 each year.The Pension Credit Day of Action on June 15, saw some famous faces and charities get behind the campaign including financial guru, Martin Lewis and former Strictly Come Dancing head judge, Len Goodman.

DWP told the Work and Pensions Committee that in a typical week they would normally receive around 3,000 new claims, but as a result of the drive “saw a tripling” of applications.Secretary of State at DWP, Dr Dr Thérèse Coffey MP, said this was down to “trying to appeal to the children and grandchildren of pensioners to encourage them to check” if they were missing out on the gateway benefit.However, she added: “There were quite a lot of people who did apply who are not actually eligible, but that is okay.

It is better for people to check and we want people to try to get access to the benefits if they are.”But don’t let that put you off making a claim as Peter Schofield, Permanent Secretary at DWP, explained that between 60% and 70% of new claims for Pension Credit are successful.He said: “The proportion who turned out not to be eligible has gone up, but it is still a good chunk of people who are applying who are eligible.”A reminder about Pension Credit is sent out every year along with the State Pension uprating letter and while you may not get a huge financial boost, it could open a gateway to other benefits including help with housing costs, Council Tax reductions and free TV Licences for the over-75s.Ms Coffey explained: “The thing we have particularly