State pensioners born before this date owed £300 from DWP after threshold 'increased'

People born before a certain date have a higher income threshold for Pensions Credit from the DWP it has been confirmed.

The Department for Work and Pensions will pay state pensioners a £300 Winter Fuel Payment EVEN if they have savings. People born before a certain date have a higher income threshold for Pensions Credit from the DWP it has been confirmed.

For those who reached state pension age before 6 April 2016 - men born before 6 April 1951; women born before 6 April 1953, the DWP has confirmed the thresholds are higher. Those who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 can qualify for Pension Credit with higher incomes of £260.68 for singles and £380.55 for couples.

BBC expert Paul Lewis said: "Those who reached pension age before 6 April 2016 have a higher threshold. The constant use of the lower threshold helps put people off claiming." Mr Lewis added: "Pensioners may wipe out RReeves’s savings (and smile) by claiming pension credit in tens of thousands to keep their winter fuel payment https://bit.ly/3N5ACXw @policy_practice says other benefits that come with pension credit could cost the government more than it has assumed."

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There are 4 main questions when considering whether a pensioner may get Pension Credit, the DWP says. In its guidance, it asks: How old are they? If they have a partner who lives with them, how how old is their partner? What is their weekly income? Is it less that £218.15 if they are single or £332.95 if they are a couple? Do they have any savings? Have they got less than £10,000?

People who have more income or savings than this may still qualify for Pension Credit. But these questions are a good basic indication of who is likely to qualify. If they are over 65 and reached their State Pension age before 6 April 2016, they could still qualify for Pension Credit if their weekly income is less than £260.68 if they are single or £380.55 if they are a couple.

Replying to Mr Lewis, a fan said: "I presume thats why it was a universal payment. Ok of course some will not need it but it ensured that those that do received it. If it is now to be means tested then a full impact assessment should have been made. I'm very suspicious at the speed it was taken away. Pay maybe."

"The upper ‘thresholds’ are point at which older pensioners wld not qualify for savings credit. All are higher if additions (disability, caring, children, some housing costs) apply. I believe savings credit stopped for younger ppl partly because it’s so complicated & underclaimed!" a second said.