Britons are being urged to check if they could be entitled to one of the DWP’s most underclaimed benefits, Pension Credit.

Research by Charity Age UK estimates as many as 800,000 pensioners could be entitled to the benefit but aren’t receiving it, despite a rising number struggling with current living costs.

Pension Credit can be worth up to £3,900 a year on average and claiming it can open the door to additional means of support, such as free TV licences and discounted Council Tax.

In the most recent of a series of posts on X published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), it wrote: “Are you missing out on extra money, help with energy bills and, for over 75s, a free TV Licence?

“Pension Credit is worth £3,900 a year on average. Don’t miss out on money you could be entitled to – check if you are eligible.”

Who is entitled to Pension Credit?

Pension credit is a benefit distributed by the DWP to help people who are retired and on lower incomes with their living costs.

It is separate from the state pension and people can receive this even if they have other income, savings, or own their own home.

People must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached the state pension age (currently 66 and over) to claim. They or their partner must also receive housing benefit.

If this applies, the person must then work out their total weekly income. This should include the person’s state pension, other pensions, earnings from employment and self-employment, and most social security benefits, for example, Carer’s Allowance.

Not all benefits are counted as income. For example, the following are not counted and shouldn’t be included in the calculation:

Single pensioners are most likely to be eligible for Pension Credit if their total weekly income is roughly under £220, and £320 a week for pensioner couples.

However, people might still be eligible if their income is higher than this so it’s worth checking the Government Pension Credit calculator just in case.

How much is Pension Credit worth?

Pension Credit tops up a person’s weekly income to:

• £201.05 if they’re single
• £306.85 if they have a partner.

People may get extra amounts if they have other responsibilities and costs, which is known as ‘Guarantee Credit’. The full list of top-up payments and eligibility can be found here.

From April 2024, these figures will increase in line with September 2023’s inflation rate of 6.7 percent. This will a claimant’s weekly income up to:

• £218.15 if they’re single
• £332.95 if they have a partner.