Winter Fuel Payments have been cut for millions of pensioners.

Only those on PENSION CREDIT will get them. Yet 880,000 who are due Pension Credit don't claim.

1. Check Pension Credit eligibility via web or phone - don't stall, just call or go to www.gov.uk/pension-credit if you can, or if not call 0800 99 1234.  PLEASE check - the worst that can happen is you don't qualify, it is complicated who's eligible, even some getting more than the full state pension may qualify - often due to its interaction with some disability-related benefits.

2. Checked before? Check again. If you were just over the margin before you might now be eligible, in April the Pension Credit threshold was increased by 8.5%. For a few, it's worth checking again. Also, if you've got new responsibilities as a carer, it's vital to recheck.

3. Pension Credit has a superpower... it's worth claiming, as it's often a gateway to other benefits. It may trigger...             

Free TV licence for over-75s (normally £169.50/yr). 

Housing Benefit worth £1,000s for some renters. Council tax reductions.