DWP is sending out more than half a million leaflets to households in seven areas across the UK
Hundreds of thousands of pensioners are being urged to check whether they are eligible for Pension Credit as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) launches a campaign to assist older people in accessing financial support worth more than £4,500 a year on average.
The DWP is sending out 660,000 information leaflets to households across seven areas of the UK in a bid to address widespread misconceptions that deter people from claiming the means-tested benefit. The leaflets will outline how to check eligibility, submit a claim and assist an older family member in applying for Pension Credit, as reported by the Daily Record.
Approximately 1.4 million pensioner households already receive the benefit, yet the DWP has indicated that many more people could be entitled to support without being aware of it. The latest campaign follows an awareness drive in 2025 that resulted in an additional 33,500 applications.
Pension Credit provides additional funds to those of State Pension age on a low income and can also unlock further assistance with household bills and other day-to-day expenses. The DWP has confirmed that owning a property, holding savings or receiving a private pension does not automatically disqualify someone from being eligible.
Those with savings may still qualify because the first £10,000 is disregarded when calculating Pension Credit entitlement.
For every £500 above that figure, the DWP assumes an extra £1 a week in income when determining entitlement. Receiving a State Pension does not automatically disqualify someone either, as Pension Credit can be claimed alongside it.
However, the benefit is not granted automatically, which means eligible pensioners must submit a claim themselves.
Those wishing to find out whether they might qualify can do so by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV. UK.
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.”
He added: “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.”
As part of the campaign, leaflets will be distributed across Powys, Glasgow, Stockton-on-Tees, inland Cornwall, Birmingham, East Suffolk and Manchester.
The initiative also includes advertising across television, radio, print and social media, including a partnership with ITV’s The Chase. Independent Age has welcomed the campaign following its analysis, which revealed that more than one million eligible older people on low incomes failed to claim Pension Credit in 2023/24.
The charity estimated the total value of unclaimed support at £2.5 billion. Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, said: “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.”
She added: “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.”
The DWP is urging pensioners and their loved ones to verify their eligibility rather than assuming they will not qualify on the basis of their financial situation.
