Many people can find the winter months challenging. Additional costs of heating your home, seasonal illnesses, and even difficulty getting out of the house during cold weather spells all affect our general well-being. 

We would like to help you get the correct information and access resources that could help ease the strain this winter.

Support in the local area

• The Money Information Centre provides free, confidential advice about money and help with the cost of living.
• The Local Welfare Support Scheme can help towards the cost of food, fuel, appliances and furniture, Eligibility criteria applies.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit is a DWP administered passporting benefit for people over state pension age. The basic rate of Pension Credit tops up the weekly income of eligible pension-age claimants to £218.15 per week for individuals and £332.95 for couples as standard. This figure is higher where someone is a carer, disabled (without a carer), or has children (exact figure dependent on individual circumstances)

There is no capital limit for Pension Credit (though savings over £10000 can affect entitlement), and a specific element of the benefit called ‘Savings Credit’ is available for those with savings or income higher than the basic State Pension. Households may also still be eligible for Pension Credit if they have a disability, care for someone, have savings or housing costs.

Pension Credit is a passporting benefit, which means in addition to the weekly financial award, claimants are also eligible for additional support, including

• Free TV License (over 75’s)
• Healthcare costs including free NHS dental treatment, help with eyecare costs and hospital travel
• Winter Fuel Payment
• Warm Home Discount
• Cold Weather Payments (£25 when the temperature is 0°C or below, 7 days in a row)
• Housing benefit or help with mortgage interest, ground rent and service charges.
• Council Tax Support

• Pension Credit: Take up briefing note (pdf)
• Pension Credit: Take up briefing note (word)

The videos below were filmed in Cantonese, Urdu, Punjabi, and Bengali with English subtitles to try to increase maximum reach in communities.