Just 1.7 million out of 13 million pensioners are claiming the full new state pension
There are currently 13 million people over the state pension threshold age of 66, but only 1.7 million of them are receiving the full new state pension of £230.25 per week.
This means a massive 11.3 million people are eligible to receive more benefits but simply aren’t claiming them.
Pensioners have been urged to check their National Insurance record and ensure there are no unexpected gaps or issues.
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They need a full 35 years of contributions to receive the £230.25 per week and at least 10 to qualify for any of the new state pension.
For those not receiving the full state pension, they could be eligible for Pension Credit.
As it stands, this is one of the most underclaimed benefits, with £1.5 billion in support left on the table, according to the Express.
To find out if you’re eligible for additional support, just head over to the gov.uk website and fill out their Pension Credit Calculator.
There is also Attendance Allowance, though this is only available in need of assistance and supervision.
The allowance ranges from £73.90 to £110.40 per week, depending on the support you need.
Pensioners should also check that they are taking advantage of discounts on offer to them, such as council tax payment support.
Assisting both those that either rent or own a property; if you receive a disability or carer’s benefit you may be entitled to a larger council tax reduction and the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit could even cover your entire council tax bill.
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