State pensioners urged to claim extra £78 a week if they meet these conditions

State pensioners can claim an extra £78.10 per week from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if they meet certain conditions.

Pensioners on a low income can get weekly payments from the DWP to help with living costs by claiming Pension Credit, but the benefit can be topped up with additional amounts in some cases. Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £227.10 if you’re single, or your joint weekly income to £346.60 if you’re a couple. But the DWP will pay extra amounts on top of this to pensioners who have other responsibilities.

Pensioners who are responsible for taking care of children or young people can get an extra £67.42 per week for each child, but this amount is increased to £78.10 per week for the first child if they were born before April 6, 2017.

The child or young person must normally live with you and be under the age of 20 to qualify for the extra payment. If the child is aged 16 or over and under 20, they must be in – or accepted for – either of the following:

• approved training, such as Foundation Apprenticeships
• a course of non-advanced education (for example, they’re studying for GCSEs or A levels)

If they’re in education, it must be for more than 12 hours a week on average.

Not only can pensioners get this extra amount if they meet the criteria, Pension Credit also opens the door to a string of other financial support.

This includes things like Housing Benefit, a Winter Fuel Payment worth up to £300, a Council Tax discount, a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over, £150 off winter energy bills through the Warm Home Discount Scheme, and help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs.

To qualify for Pension Credit you must have reached State Pension age and live in England, Scotland or Wales.

You can apply for it up to four months before reaching State Pension age – which is currently age 66 for men and women – or any time after, but your application can only be backdated by three months. As such, you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.