Spread the message that claiming retirement credit is nothing to be ashamed of, according to the new campaign

New research reveals that one in six retirees are embarrassed to tell their family about applying for a pension loan to increase their income.

According to research conducted by Royal London, more than half of people over the age of 66 do not like to ask for support or help from friends or relatives, even if they need it.

Pension credit increases weekly income to a minimum of £218.15 for singles and £332.95 for couples and gives you access to lots of additional help with bills.

Crucially, this includes keeping the Winter Fuel Payment, which ranges from £100 to £300 per year, if you claim by the deadline of 21 December.

The government announced in the summer that these payments would be means-tested in future, sparking a backlash from charities and campaigners for the elderly, such as Ros Altmann.

A claim is being made retirement credit: Learn how to increase your weekly income below

Winter Fuel Payment: Now means tested so you need to apply for pension credit or other eligible entitlement

Royal London found that 11 per cent of seniors who found out they were eligible for pension credit had not yet applied, and only 2 per cent planned to apply before the deadline for the Winter Fuel Payment.

The firm says this shows retirees have real hesitancy about going through the retirement loan application process.

Succession star Brian Cox is currently leading a celebrity campaign encouraging struggling pensioners to make claims.

At the initiative of national charity Independent Age, he is joined by film and TV actress Jane Asher and Sue Holderness, who plays Marlene in the sitcom Only Fools and Horses.

Royal London, which is running its own campaign under the banner Take The Credit, surveyed more than 1,200 people aged over 66 from every part of England last month about their attitudes to pension credit and other issues. He found:

– More than a third find asking for help uncomfortable

– One in 10 people believe that there are people who need financial help more than they do

– Almost a third of low earners (those earning below the pension credit threshold) have not yet checked whether they qualify

– 16 percent would be more likely to apply if it wasn’t defined as a benefit

– The same percentage said they would be embarrassed to tell friends and family if they applied for retirement credit.

‘Too many pensioners – around three-quarters of a million – are still missing out on this financial support,’ says Royal London consumer finance expert Sarah Pennells.

‘Some of the main reasons people miss out on superannuation credit are because they don’t think they’ll qualify, or because they don’t check because they’re too embarrassed to admit they need extra help.

‘We must spread the message that there is no shame in accepting available help.

‘There have been difficult times in recent years, so it is important that we come together and encourage retirees, whether family, friends or neighbours, to explore all the support options that may be available.’

How to apply for pension credit and where to get help with claims?

If you are elderly and financially unstable, pension credit will top up your weekly income to a minimum of £218.15 for singles and £332.95 for couples.

On average it’s worth around £4,000 a year on its own, but pension credit also opens the door to lots of extra help with household bills.

You could save thousands of pounds including housing costs, heating, council tax, TV licenses if you’re over 75 and other bills.

Learn more about retirement loan here and about Rules for who is eligible here.

You can apply yourself by phone. 0800 99 1234claim pension loan online or Receive a form to do this by mail.

A friend or family member can apply on behalf of an elderly person.

In Scotland, a new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will eventually replace the Winter Fuel Payment.

However, for this winter, people who are eligible over the state pension age will receive a payment in line with the Winter Fuel Payment and this will be based on means. Control If you live in Scotland here And I’m here for Northern Ireland.

Celebrity campaign: From left to right, Sue Holderness, Jane Asher and Brian Cox urge older people to check if they can claim pension credit

Independent Age, a charity focused on improving the lives of older people in financial distress, offers help via its freephone line 0800 319 6789.

The charity’s advisors carry out welfare checks to ensure callers can access all available support, including pension credit and Winter Fuel Payment.

Age UK staff assist with applications. Any elderly person struggling with bills or friends and family who are dealing with them can call. 0800 169 6565.

This line is open every day of the year from 8 am to 7 pm, or you can visit it. Age UK’s help page is here.

It is also a free anonymous benefit calculator It can provide you with an estimate of what you might qualify for if you want to learn this information specifically.

Age UK has found that the three groups most affected by the means testing of the Winter Fuel Payment are people whose income is too high to qualify for a pension credit, people who can claim the credit but do not (usually a third of those eligible) and ill or disabled people with high energy needs.

What does the DWP say?

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: ‘We want to ensure all pensioners receive the support they deserve, which is why we are deploying over 500 extra staff to process the expected increase in claims.’

‘Our retirement loan campaign was also successful in increasing applications by 152 percent.

‘Successful claims for pension credit can be backdated by three months, so all eligible claims made by 21 December will also receive a Winter Fuel Payment and pension credit.

‘We continue to urge anyone who thinks they may qualify for a pension loan to check now.’