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<p>Pension Credit is an important benefit specifically intended to help the poorest
pensioners. There are over 1.6m pensioners already claiming Pension Credit worth over
£5billion a year. However, the Government wants to ensure that all pensioners eligible
can claim the Pension Credit to which they are rightly entitled.</p><p> </p><p>We
also welcome and encourage initiatives to promote take up of Pension Credit by national
and local organisations who may often be best placed to understand the local circumstances
and needs in the community. For this reason we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit,
as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to
encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-<strong>credit</strong>-toolkit</a></p><p>
</p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes
guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed
to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations
support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up.
The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p>
</p><p>Organisations can use the Pension Credit calculator <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator</a> to help people check
if they are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive.</p><p>
</p><p>In addition, the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible
to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change
in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information
about benefits to potential claimants; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/"
target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a> but also in leaflets and by telephone. DWP staff
in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide
help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who
administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>People can telephone either the Pension
Service helpline for general enquiries on 0800 731 0469 or those wishing to claim
Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit is
designed to target resources at those that need them most and to provide support for
people who cannot work or need help moving towards the labour market.</p><p> </p><p>For
those that are unable to access or use digital services, assistance to make and maintain
their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644
and face-to-face support is available in Jobcentres. In exceptional circumstances,
a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their
claim.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, claimants can access support with their Universal
Credit application through the Citizen’s Advice Help to Claim service which, offers
tailored, practical support online, over the phone, and face-to-face. You can contact
an adviser through the free national Help to Claim phone service:</p><p>England: 0800
144 8 444</p><p>Wales: 08000 241 220</p><p>Scotland: 0800 023 2581</p><p>We are continuously
reviewing and improving the service for people who claim Universal Credit to ensure
that it is accessible and responsive to their needs. This includes how they are identified
and supported, either from our own staff or via referrals from local services.</p>
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