Cost of Living Support

Are you worried about losing the winter fuel payment and paying your heating bills over the colder months? Then here’s the latest information and steps you can take to see if you qualify for Pension Credit or other support.

The government has identified as many as 880,000 pensioner households are missing out on pension credit with the average underclaim understood to be worth £3,600 per year.

As it stands to be eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment you must be entitled to pension credit and you must have made your claim for pension credit by December 21, 2024.

Eligibility and applying

• If you are over State Pension Age and have a low income you could be eligible for pension credit and receive the winter fuel payment, even if you own your home or have savings.
• You need to apply without delay, request a backdate of any potential award when you apply (as it will not be done automatically) and demonstrate you were entitled to it during the period of the qualifying week, which was 16 -22 September 2024. 
• The maximum amount of time a backdate can be applied is three months, so applicants must have claimed pension credit on any day up to and including 21 December 2024.
• Getting pension credit can provide a passport to help with things like rent, council tax, cold weather payments and a free TV licence for people aged 75 and over.

Make a claim

To make a claim or to find out how much Pension Credit you might receive call 0800 99 1234 or visit gov.uk/pensioncredit

Support 

If you:

• need help making a claim
• want to talk to someone about your potential Pension Credit entitlement
• want to see if there are any other benefits you could be missing out on

then please call 01902 555351, email wrs.benefitshelpline@wolverhampton.gov.uk or visit one of our Customer Service Access Points.

You can also contact:

• Citizens Advice
  • Website
  • 0800 144 8848
• Age UK
  • Website
  • 0800 678 1602

The Holiday Activities and Food Programme provides eligible children and young people with free holiday activities and food in the long school holidays.

For more information and to view the events available please visit yowolves.co.uk.

Visit Yo Wolves

Broadband

As more households have been affected by the rising cost of living and energy prices, are you struggling to pay for broadband?

If you’re on benefits, you can access cheaper broadband packages starting at £12.  For more information please visit, Cheaper broadband and phone packages - Ofcom or Discounted 'social tariffs' for those on certain benefits (moneysavingexpert.com).
 
The City of Wolverhampton is committed to ensuring all residents have access to devices and connectivity to benefit from digital by getting online to improve their life chances.

If you’re not already online as you don’t have a device or connectivity, Wolves Online is a device and connectivity lending scheme available to Wolverhampton residents to help you get online and stay connected. We work with a network of 50 trusted partners and can lend chrome books or tablets and connectivity through a MiFi and Sim card for 3 months. Our trusted partner network can help you get online and improve your digital skills.  For more information please visit Get Online | Digital Wolves.

Social Tariffs

Residents who are facing difficulties affording broadband and mobile phone bills in the cost-of-living crisis are being urged to make the most of social tariffs and get connected for less.

The tariffs, offered by most major providers, provide home broadband and mobile connectivity at reduced prices for people in receipt of certain benefits such as Universal Credit, starting from £12 a month.

Free SIM cards are also available via the National databank that are available from more than 1,700 local community across the UK.

Only 5.1 per cent of those eligible across the country are signed up to a social tariff. Eligibility varies by supplier, so it is recommended you get in touch with your current provider or check out OFCOM’s resources to see whether you are eligible and what tariffs are available.

More information about social tariffs can also be found at Get connected for less - wmca.org.uk.

To find a databank near you visit Good Things Foundation - Improving lives through digital.