The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a correction to its recent Pension Credit announcement, clarifying that 33,500 additional awards were made, not applications. The correction was shared on Monday, October 19, following the department's initial update on October 13.
The DWP's statement read: "Correction to two instances of, 'saw an extra 33,500 applications' to 'saw an extra 33,500 awards'." The sentence in question now reads: "New drive builds on last year’s biggest-ever Pension Credit awareness campaign, which saw an additional 33,500 awards."
Pension Credit awareness campaign and its impact
Last week, the DWP confirmed it would be writing to state pensioners to encourage more claims for Pension Credit, an income top-up that provides vital help with everyday costs. The campaign aims to reach hundreds of thousands of pensioners who may be eligible for the benefit but have not yet claimed it.
Pension Credit is worth more than £4,500 a year on average, providing a significant income boost for low-income pensioners. The benefit also opens the door to additional help with bills and other everyday costs.
Minister and charity respond to the update
Labour Party Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell said: "Far too many pensioners are missing out on support they’re entitled to. Pension Credit is worth more than £4,500 a year on average and can make a real difference to people’s finances, while also opening the door to help with bills and other everyday costs. If you think you might be eligible, it’s worth checking. We want to make sure pensioners get the support they’re entitled to and don’t miss out on money that could help them in retirement."
Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, added: "Our analysis found that in 2023/4 more than a million older people on low incomes who are eligible for Pension Credit did not receive it, missing out on a combined £2.5 billion of life-changing support. Every day we hear heartbreaking stories of older people enduring financial hardship because they aren’t aware of Pension Credit, or that they qualify for the support. We welcome the DWP’s commitment to raising awareness and understanding of Pension Credit and look forward to continuing to play our part to tackle the issue of low take-up."
What pensioners should do next
The DWP's awareness campaign is part of a broader effort to increase take-up of Pension Credit among eligible pensioners. The correction clarifies the number of awards made during the previous campaign, which is a key metric for assessing the effectiveness of the outreach.
Pensioners who think they might be eligible for Pension Credit are encouraged to check their entitlement, as the benefit can provide substantial financial support and access to additional assistance with household costs.
