Understanding benefits

Welfare Officer, Biljana Vidojevic, has offered to help us understand the complex world of Benefits.

Today, we start with Pension Credit and watch out for more information about another Benefit in the summer.

Pension credit

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

• Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension.
• It is aimed at people of State Pension age
• It can be applied for up to four months before you and/or your partner reach Pension Age
• You can apply any time after you reach State Pension age but your application can only be backdated by three months.
• It tops up the State Pension
• For a single tenant it tops up the weekly income to £177.10
• Joint Weekly income £270.30 if you have a partner
• If you have savings of £10,000 or less this will not affect your Pension Credit entitlement

You can apply for it by phone or online

Pension Credit Claim Line: 0800 99 1234

You can apply online service if:

• you have already claimed your State Pension
• there are no children or young people included in your application

For more information, click here.

For more assistance on this or any other benefit please contact Biljana on 020 8731 0919 or email her bvidojevic@jliving.org.uk