A recent news article has revealed that pension credit claims more than doubled during the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) recent Pension Credit Day of Action, with over 10,000 claims made during the week of 13 June, marking a 275% year-on-year increase.

The DWP’s campaign included a social media video with Strictly Come Dancing’s Len Goodman, which has now been viewed over 1.3 million times, and looked to encourage greater take-up and address common myths that may stop people applying for pension credit.

The boost in claims will mean that more pensioners could be in line to receive extra financial support worth an average of over £3,300 a year.

Usdaw has raised concerns over the low take-up of pension credit, after figures from the DWP revealed that whilst over 1.4 million pensioners in Britain receive pension credit, around £1.7bn is still being left unclaimed.

Usdaw has created a Pension Credit leaflet in the popular “Puzzled By Pensions?” range, which explains what it is all about, who can claim, how claiming pension credit can link in to other benefits and help on how you can claim it.

The leaflet can be accessed here - or if you would like to order a copy please ring us on 0161 224 2804 and ask for the Pensions Section.