Claim pension credit before 19 May to qualify for first 2023/2024 £301 Cost of Living payment

Tue,9 May 2023
News Benefits Money
The DWP is urging pensioners to check if they could be eligible for Pension Credit, worth over £3,500 a year on average
Those who successfully claim by 19 May could also receive a £301 Cost of Living payment.

There will be further payments worth £150 for eligible Disabled people and £300 for pensioners later this year.

Provided a pension credit claim is made before 19 May 2023, it can be backdated for up to three months so long as the claimant was also eligible to receive it during that time.

Pension credit aims to help people on a low income over state pension age with daily living costs, although you do not need to be get 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 is disabled or a carer.

Claims for pension credit can be made:

More information about pension credit is available from our guidance and resources section.

You can check pension credit eligibility and get an estimate of what you may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator available on gov.uk.

The full list of benefit claimants that qualify for the upcoming Cost of Living payment are those who receive:

  • universal credit;
  • income-based jobseekers allowance;
  • income-related employment and support allowance;
  • income support;
  • working tax credit;
  • child tax credit;
  • pension credit

To be eligible for the £301 Cost of Living Payment, you need to have been entitled to a payment for one of these benefits between 26 January and 25 February 2023, or payment for an assessment period ending between these dates.

Disabled people getting one of the following disability benefits will receive a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 during Summer 2023:

  • disability living allowance;
  • personal independence payment;
  • attendance allowance;
  • Scottish disability benefits;
  • armed forces independence payment;
  • constant attendance allowance;
  • war pension mobility supplement

You can claim attendance allowance if you are disabled, have reached pension age and need help to look after yourself.

You do not actually have to be getting any help. It is the help you need that is important.

 More information about attendance allowance is available from our resources section.

For more information see also: