Urgent message to pensioners earning less than £218 a week

Some of the poorest pensioners in Britain who don't currently get extra support from the Government have been urged to apply. Over 800,000 older people don't claim Pension Credit despite being eligible for the extra help.

This includes single pensioners who live on as little as £218 a week, or couples on £333. These people who don't get Pension Credit are facing a hard winter.

That's because their Winter Fuel Payments, worth up to £300, are being taken away by the Government. People need to be claiming Pension Credit in order to get their winter payments.

READ MORE: People on Universal Credit to get £84 extra paid into bank accounts

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But for those who don't claim it, they are going to have to manage through winter with very little money. Older people on low incomes are being urged to apply for Pension Credit. Loved ones are also being asked to help them if they are unsure how to do it.

Age UK has blasted the Government over the changes, which it says will leave millions struggling this winter. The charity said: "More than 800,000 older people living on very low incomes – under £218.25 a week for single pensioners and under £332.95 for couples – who are already missing out on the Pension Credit they are entitled to will now also lose the Winter Fuel Payment that helps them to pay their energy bills.

"In addition, there are also about one million pensioners whose weekly incomes are less than £50 per week above the Pension Credit line, who will also be hit hard by the loss of the payment. Finally, there is a third group who will find it extremely difficult to heat their homes adequately this winter as a result of the proposed change.

"These are older people whose incomes are a little higher though still limited, but who are seriously unwell so have to stay warm, and/or who live in energy inefficient homes and so face extremely high fuel bills through no fault of their own. Means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment this winter, with virtually no notice and no compensatory measures to protect poor and vulnerable pensioners, could potentially jeopardise the health of older people – the last thing they or the NHS needs."