Commenting on the latest Department of Work and Pensions benefits statistics, Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, said: “About 44% of those who have reached State Pension age since the introduction of the New State Pension – about 574,000 people – receive at least the full rate. A further 47% or 608,000 people receive somewhere between 75%-100% of the full amount. That leaves about 109,000 people – not quite one in 10 – receiving less than 75% of the full amount.
“The figures compare to nearly two-thirds of people (65%) who retired on the Basic State Pension before the rules changed in 2016.
“Many older households are heavily reliant on the State Pension and benefits. Together they make up around £4 in every £5 of income for the poorest pensioner households and around half of income for the average pensioner household.
“Those pensioners whose incomes are below a certain threshold – £173.75 for single people or £265.20 for couples – can apply for benefits to top up their incomes.
“However, this is not done automatically. It is up to people to find out for themselves but is certainly worth doing because it can mean thousands a year extra income. About 1.2 million pensioner households are missing out on Pension Credit, an average of around £2,000 a year each, according to the government’s own figures.
“Take up rates are lower for couples (55%) than they are for single women (62%) or men 67% and those aged over 75 are also less likely to claim than younger people.
“The government web site has links to useful third-party calculators (https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators) while other sources are Citizens Advice and local councils.”
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