Martin Lewis joins DWP call for 880,000 older Brits to 'get help' missed by one in three

After changes to the Winter Fuel Payment that made the £300 benefit means-tested rather than universal, the government has started a fresh campaign to convince older Brits claiming the State Pension to apply for Pension Credit - or miss out on an average of £3900 in additional financial support.

One in three people claiming the State Pension who qualify for this benefit do not claim it, which has been a historic issue for the Pension Credit system, but has become more serious a problem now that it is required to claim the Winter Fuel Payment. With 880,000 people missing out on this essential cash boost, it could mean more older people struggling to pay their energy bills this winter if they fail to "get help."

Labour has blamed the need to means-test this benefit on the financial "blackhole" left by the previous Conservative governments, stating that only the worst-off will now get help with their fuel costs. To qualify for Pension Credit, typically people claiming State Pension will have weekly incomes below £218.15 for single individuals or £332.95 for couples, but this can be mediated by living costs so pensioners are advised to check the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) eligibility calculator.

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The North West has the highest proportion of Pension Credit claimants of any region in the country, with 175,179 older people claiming the benefit that ensures all pensioners receive a minimum level of financial support. This is something financial guru Martin Lewis has called a "national tragedy" for those who miss out on a "State Pension Top Up."

Founder of MoneySavingExpert, Martin Lewis said: "It’s a national tragedy that