Martin Lewis issues warning to state pensioners and states 'this is urgent'

Martin Lewis has warned state pensioners "this is urgent" as he urged them to act before a December 21 deadline and to secure Pension Credit and the £300 Winter Fuel Payment to boot. BBC and ITV star Mr Lewis has issued an urgent warning to state pensioners before Christmas.

The final date to claim Pension Credit and consequently grab your £200 to £300 Winter Fuel Payment is set to pass on December 21, Mr Lewis, 52, has said. Anyone missing that deadline will not be able to get their Winter Fuel Payment this winter.

Martin said: "This is an urgent warning about the Winter Fuel Payment deadline. For the first time, this winter, Winter Fuel Payments for state pensioners are means tested. The payment is £200, £300 if you’re older. To get Winter Fuel Payment you now need to claim and get Pension Credit.

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"There are other ways but they’re gone for this year. This is the only one left. The deadline to apply is two weeks away, a little less than two weeks away. But you must have been eligible three months ago because this is effectively a backdated claim.

"So, who? Well if you’re a single state pensioner and you’ve got total income under £218 a week, you’re very likely to get it. If you’ve got income under £235 a week, you may get it. If you get Attendance Allowance that can be up to £300. Similar, for a couple who are both state pension age, under £333 a week total income likely to get, under £350 a week may get.

"When I say may get, I mean still try… and if you get Attendance Allowance again, the amount can be far higher." He continued: “Savings under £10,000? Don’t count. Savings over £10,000, for each £500 over that you have, counts as £1 a week income.

“It’s complicated, if you don’t understand, if you’re not quite sure, but you’re on a lower income pensioner, don’t stall, just call.”