Latest news with #GuaranteePensionCredit
The Herald Scotland
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Pensioners living on their own owed £4k State Pension boost
This means older people on a low income making a new claim this month, especially those living on their own, could receive their first payment and any arrears by mid-September. Welfare, benefits and pensions spending in the UK now exceeds £300 billion a year, over a quarter of all government expenditure. We've become a nation addicted to wealth redistribution, while abandoning wealth creation. With 7.7 million on benefits, 3 million not even seeking… — Ben Habib (@BackBrexitBen) July 2, 2025 Despite the full New State Pension now worth £230.25 per week and the full Basic State Pension worth £176.45, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in 2021, some 3.3 million people aged 65 years and over were living alone in England and Wales, with around 337,000 single pensioner households recorded in Scotland. All older people - single, married or cohabiting - must make sure they are claiming all the additional financial support they are entitled to this year to help boost their income and offset the ongoing impact of the cost of living. Who can claim Pension Credit? There are two types of Pension Credit - Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit, you must be State Pension age (66). Your weekly income will need to be less than the minimum amount the UK Government says you need to live on. This is £227.10 for a single person and £346.60 for a couple - this amount could be higher if you're disabled, a carer or have certain housing costs. Pension Credit is the most under-claimed benefit and is specifically aimed at providing additional financial support for older people on a low income, singles and couples. Recommended reading: Nearly 1.4 million older people across Great Britain, including more than 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving the means-tested benefit that could provide an average of £4,300 in extra support during the coming months. Some older people think that because they have savings or own their home, they would not be eligible for the means-tested benefit, which can also provide access to help with housing costs, heating bills and Council Tax. An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock other support.
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Thousands could be eligible to 'cancel TV licence fee' after BBC rule change
A little known rule around the TV licence fee has been revealed that could save households a significant amount of money each year - but millions could be missing out A lesser-known TV Licence rule that could save 475,000 people £174.50 annually has been highlighted. It's been confirmed that UK households can reduce their BBC TV Licence fee from £174.50 to nothing, offering a significant saving amid the current cost of living crisis. The fee is applicable to any household that watches or records programmes as they're being broadcast live on any TV channel or views live programmes on any online TV service such as Channel 4, YouTube or Amazon Prime Video. To be eligible, you must be aged 75 or over and receiving pension credit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), potentially saving you £174.50 each year. According to Policy in Practice, there are currently 425,000 eligible individuals over the age of 75 who qualify for pension credit based on their income but have not yet applied. The free TV licence scheme for those aged 75 or over was modified in August 2020. You can now apply for a free TV licence if you're over this age and either you or your partner living at the same address is receiving Pension Credit. This can be Savings Credit or Guarantee Pension Credit, Yorkshire Live reports, reports the Daily Record. The TV licence needs to be registered under the name of the person in your household who is 75 or older and receiving Pension Credit. UK households have been advised that a free licence will not be given automatically. To find out if you're eligible for a free TV licence, give TV Licensing a ring on 0300 790 6071. You can also apply through this channel. If you're applying online or by post, you'll need to provide two pieces of evidence that confirm you're receiving Pension Credit and are aged 75 or over. Your passport or driving licence can usually be used as one piece of evidence. Ensure the name you use to apply for your free TV licence matches the one held by the DWP. If the licence at your address is under someone else's name, you'll need the existing licence number when applying for your free one. A free TV licence covers everyone living in your home, regardless of their age. If no one in your household receives Pension Credit, you'll have to fork out for your TV licence. There are other situations where people can get a hefty discount on their TV licence. For instance, if you live in residential care or sheltered accommodation, you're entitled to a discount. If you're residing in a qualifying residential care home, sheltered accommodation or supported housing, you can get a TV Licence for just £7.50. To qualify, you must also be either retired and over 60 or disabled. Your housing manager can check if you're eligible and apply on your behalf. On the other hand, if you're registered as blind or severely sight impaired, or share a home with someone who is, you can claim a 50 per cent discount. The licence has to be in the name of the person who's blind. If it isn't, a new application can be submitted to transfer it into their name.
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
UK households urged to check on this service at home after major BBC rule change
A little-known TV Licence rule means approximately 475,000 households could be missing out on annual savings of £174.50. Here's how to check whether or not you're eligible You could well be missing out on savings of £174.50 every single year, without even realising it - a potentially significant boost amid the ongoing Cost of Living crisis. Eligible individuals could well see their BBC TV Licence reduced to exactly £0, all thanks to a little-known rule. And around 475,000 households up and down the UK could benefit. If you're over the age of 75 and if you, or your partner living at the same address, are claiming Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pension credit, whether that be Savings Credit or Guarantee Pension Credit, you will qualify for a free TV licence. However, this isn't an automatic process, and there are some things you should be aware of... As previously reported by Birmingham Live, you can check whether or not you're eligible for a free TV licence by phoning up TV Licensing on 0300 790 6071. You can also make your application over the phone, should you prefer. For online or postal applications, you'll need to present two pieces of evidence to prove that you're a recipient of Pension Credit and that you're aged 75 or over. A passport or driving licence can usually be used as one piece of evidence. It's important to ensure the name used in your application matches the name on DWP records. Also, if the licence at your home address is under somebody else's name, you'll need to have the current licence number to hand when making your application. If you qualify for a free TV licence, then this covers both yourself and anybody else residing at your home address, regardless of age. As previously reported by the Mirror, when the licence fee was first introduced in 1946, back when the BBC was the UK's sole broadcaster, it cost £2 - the equivalent of around £105 in today's money. As of April 1, 2025, the price was set at £174.50, with viewers seeing an increase from £169.50. The licence fee applies to households that watch or record shows as they're being broadcast live on any TV channel, or that watch live programmes using any online TV service, including Channel 4, YouTube, or Amazon Prime Video. According to students who reside at another address, which already has a licence, outside of term time, don't require a licence, and can use that TV Licence during their studies on any device that's battery powered, isn't plugged in, and isn't connected to an aerial. You also won't need a licence if you only watch the following specific types of content: streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+, on-demand TV through services like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video, videos on websites like YouTube, or videos or DVDS.
Daily Record
10-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
UK households advised to 'cancel TV licence' and save £174.50 after BBC rule change
Around 475,000 UK households are missing out on a £174.50 annual saving due to a lesser known TV licence rule - here's how to find out if you're eligible to get a free licence. A little known TV Licence rule that could save 475,000 people £174.50 a year has been revealed. It's been confirmed that UK households can lower their BBC TV Licence fee from £174.50 to zero, providing a notable saving amidst the current cost of living costs. The fee applies to any home that watches or records programmes as they're being broadcast live on any TV channel or watches live programmes on any online TV service such as Channel 4, YouTube, or Amazon Prime Video. Those eligible must be 75-years-old and over and receiving pension credit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), potentially saving you £174.50 annually. According to Policy in Practice, there are currently 425,000 eligible individuals over the age of 75 who qualify for pension credit based on their income that have not yet applied. The free TV licence scheme for those aged 75 or over was altered in August 2020. You can now apply for a free TV licence if you're over this age and either you or your partner residing at the same address is receiving Pension Credit. This can be Savings Credit or Guarantee Pension Credit, Yorkshire Live reports. The TV licence needs to be registered under the name of the person in your household who is 75 or older and receiving Pension Credit. UK households have been advised that a free licence will not be given automatically. You can find out if you qualify for a free TV licence by contacting TV Licensing on 0300 790 6071. Applications can also be submitted via this method. Two pieces of evidence confirming that you're receiving Pension Credit and are aged 75 or over will be required if applying online or by post. Your passport or driving licence can typically serve as one piece of evidence. Make sure that the name you use to apply for your complimentary TV licence is the same as the one held by the DWP. If the licence at your address is under a different name, you'll need the existing licence number when applying for your free licence. A free TV licence covers everyone that lives with you, regardless of their age. If no one in your home is a recipient of Pension Credit, you'll need to pay for your TV licence. Other circumstances can see people receive a substantial discount on their TV licence. For example, if you live in residential care or sheltered accommodation, you are entitled to a discount. If you stay in a qualifying residential care home, sheltered accommodation or supported housing, you can receive a TV Licence for £7.50. To meet the conditions, you must also be either retired and over 60 or disabled. Your housing manager can find out if you're eligible and apply on your behalf. Meanwhile, if you're registered as blind or severely sight impaired, or live with someone who is, you can claim a 50 per cent discount. The licence must be in the name of the blind person. If it's not, a new application can be made to transfer it into their name.
