Pension Credit recipients qualify for Cost of Living Payment

RAF pensioners can apply for the £324 Cost of Living Payment if they receive Pension Credit. 

To be eligible for the £324 Cost of Living Payment, claimants must have been entitled to one of the qualifying benefits between 26 August and 25 September. Pension Credit is a qualifying benefit and a new Pension Credit claim can be backdated by a maximum of up to three months. 

This means that pensioners who submit a new claim for Pension Credit by 18th December 2022 may still qualify for the cost-of-living payment. 

If you are on a low income and may qualify for Pension Credit prior to 18th December, please get in touch with the RAF Benevolent Fund's Benefits Team as a priority. 

Generally speaking, the following will qualify for Pension Credit:

-    Single people with a weekly income of less than £182.60 (not including disability benefit income) 
-    Couples with a weekly income of less than £278.70 (not including disability benefit income)

If a single person or couples' income is higher, they might still be eligible for Pension Credit if they have a disability, care for someone, have savings or have housing costs.

If you are not sure whether you will qualify for Pension Credit or not prior to this deadline, please contact the Fund's Benefits Team as a priority for us to check.

This year, the Fund advised 82 beneficiaries of potential entitlement to Pension Credit amounting to around £283,000 income per year. This gives an average weekly entitlement of £66 per person. 

Receipt of Pension Credit also opens up additional financial support through:

-    Cost of living payments of up to £650 per year
-    Free TV licence for over-75s
-    Help with heating costs through the Warm Home Discount scheme
-    Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
-    Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
-    Council Tax discount
-    Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments.

For the Fund's Benefits advice team, please click here