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<p>It is important to highlight that in 2017/18 there were around 1.7 million Pension
Credit claimants, receiving around £5.1 billion of Pension Credit payments.</p><p>The
Government wants to make sure that all pensioners eligible can claim the Pension Credit
to which they are entitled. That is why on the 10 February we launched a nationwide
campaign to raise awareness of Pension Credit. The aim of the campaign is to encourage
those over State Pension age to check whether they’re eligible. We want to make it
clear that having savings, a pension or owning a home are not automatic barriers to
receiving Pension Credit; as well as explaining that even a small award of Pension
Credit can provide access to a range of other benefits such as help with rent, council
tax reduction schemes and heating costs.</p><p>The campaign includes a short, animated
video that is being shown in GP waiting rooms and in Post Offices. It is also being
shown to Facebook users over State Pension age and supported by other messaging on
social media. We have also made the video and campaign materials available for stakeholders
to use, as we know they are often one of the first places people turn to for information
about Pension Credit.</p><p>An important part of our overall strategy to promote take-up
is engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as
when they claim State Pension or Attendance Allowance or report a change in their
circumstances which may mean that they could be eligible for Pension Credit.</p><p>Pension
Credit is an income-related benefit, which means that entitlement to the benefit will
depend on an individual’s particular circumstances. It is therefore not possible to
identify each person that is eligible, which is why we are encouraging people who
think they may be eligible for Pension Credit to use the online Pension Credit calculator
<a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator</a>
to check if they are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive.</p><p>
</p><p>Information on the number of Pension Credit claimants aged 75 and over between
the years of 2015 and 2019 is shown below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Number
of Pension Credit Claimants</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>926,494</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>951,529</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>993,031</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>1,033,380</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>1,102,497</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>Note: Pension Credit is paid per household rather than per person like other
benefits, therefore a Pension Credit Claimant can represent more than one person in
receipt of Pension Credit. These figures represent the number of claimants as at August
each year and represents those households where the main claimant is aged 75 and over
and receiving payment.</p><p> </p><p>The information is published and available at:
<a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk</a></p><p>
</p><p>Guidance for users is available at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html"
target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p>
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