AS the festive season approaches, pensioners across the UK have a golden opportunity to boost their finances ahead of the big day.

With an array of direct payments and benefits available upon hitting the state pension age, households could pocket up to 15,872, offering much-needed financial relief.

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From cash boosts through attendance allowance to direct winter fuel payments, a wealth of support is available for those over the age of 66.

Plus, anyone claiming the state pension can benefit from various discounts and freebies, including a free TV licence and prescriptions.

While some of these payments are issued automatically, others require an application.

We’ve listed the 14 direct payments, freebies and discounts available to those claiming the state pension this winter.

1. ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE – £4,727

Attendance allowance can help with extra costs incurred due to a severe disability that means you require regular assistance.

It’s paid at two different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care you need.

The lower rate is worth £72.65 a week, while the higher rate is paid out at £108.55 a week.

If you require frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night, you can claim the lower amount.

Those who require supervision throughout the day and night will receive the higher rate.

There are 56 categories of medical conditions that enable you to make a claim, including heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.

You are also entitled to claim if a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live.

To apply online, visit gov.uk/attendance-allowance/how-to-claim.

2. PENSION CREDIT – £3,900

If your weekly income is below £218.15 and you’re single, or your joint income is below £332.95, you’re very likely to be eligible for Pension Credit.

This added benefit will top up a pensioner’s income to the level outlined above. It’s thought to be worth £75 a week on average, which adds up to £3,900 a year.

An estimated 760,000 people who are entitled to this cash, don’t claim it.

Not only are they missing on the extra money, but there is more support available if you claim pension credit.

Crucially, the winter fuel payment worth up to £300 and paid in November or December is now being restricted to pensioners claiming pension credit and other means-tested benefits.

If you claim pension credit, you can also get help with council tax, support with mortgage interest payments, and a free TV licence and housing benefit if you rent.

3. HOUSING BENEFIT – £3,700

Almost 270,000 pensioners are missing out on £1.1billion in pension age housing benefit, according to the new figures, going without £3,700 a year on average.

The benefit is for pensioners who pay rent, are on a low income and have savings under £16,000. 

New claims for housing benefit are strictly reserved for those over the state pension age.

Universal Credit‘s housing element has replaced housing benefit for those under 66 years old.

You can apply for housing benefit directly with your local council.

Find yours by visiting gov.uk/apply-housing-benefit-from-council.

You can also apply for housing benefit as part of a pension credit claim.

4. COUNCIL TAX DISCOUNT – £2,254

If you get the guarantee part of pension credit, you might be able to get your council tax completely cancelled out.

With the average Band D council tax in England this year at £2,171, it means a big saving.

If you don’t get pension credit but have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings, you may still get some help.

You need to contact your local council to start a claim.

5. WINTER FUEL PAYMENT – UP TO £300

The winter fuel payment is designed to help pensioners pay for their energy bills over the winter.

It’s worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.

To be eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment, you must have an active claim for the benefits mentioned below during the “qualifying week,” which runs from 16 to 22 September.

These include Universal Credit, employment and support allowance (ESA), jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), income support, tax credits  and pension credit.

Most households automatically receive the winter fuel payment, including those on pension credit.

As new claims for pension credit can be backdated by up to three months, you can still apply now and qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment.

The absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify is December 21.

The Sun has now launched a free tool to help you check whether you will get the winter fuel payment this year.

6. SOCIAL WATER TARIFF – £300

If you’re on a low income, you may be able to get a social tariff from your water provider.

These vary by company, some companies offer a percentage discount, while others offer a fixed rate.

For example, under South East Water’s Social Tariff scheme your annual bill will be capped at £182.82 (East) or £146.94 (West).

The average water bill is £448 a year, according to Water UK meaning in this case you could save more than £300.

7. SOCIAL BROADBAND TARIFF – £300

Most broadband companies have social tariffs, which are usually available to people who claim Pension Credit.

The amount you’ll save varies, though it can be worth hundreds of pounds as one woman previously revealed.

There’s a list of all the providers with social tariffs on telecoms regulator Ofcom’s website.

8. FREE TV LICENCE – £169.50

If you’re over 75 and get Pension Credit, you can get a free TV licence. which costs £169.50 a year.

You also get the benefit if you live with a partner who gets Pension Credit.

Apply for a free licence online or by phoning TV licensing on 0300 790 6071.

9. WARM HOME DISCOUNT – £150

Half of people entitled to the Warm Home Discount are not claiming, meaning up to 2.5million are missing out on £150 a year.

This is largely due to eligible people not claiming pension credit as the “gateway” benefit.

The support is a one-off deduction off your electricity bill made between October and March each year.

The money isn’t paid to you, but is applied as credit on your bill.

It’s automatic in the vast majority of cases, but due to the way the scheme operates, certain households have to apply for the rebate.

10. HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT FUND – £100s

Struggling households can get help with the cost of living via the Household Support Fund (HSF).

The fund has been extended for the sixth time, with £421million set to be made available to regional councils to distribute.

The support you can access depends on where you live, but funds can be paid out through shopping or fuel vouchers, cash payments, or other means.

For example, households in Reading who are no longer eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment but in receipt of council tax reduction and/or housing benefit are to be sent a voucher worth £200.

Meanwhile struggling residents and families who live in Torridge can apply for free cash grants directly to bank accounts worth £100s.

These grants can be used to help households with their energy and water bills.

Others may be eligible for cash vouchers to be spent on food at their local supermarket.

Check with your local council to find out what you could be entitled to.

11. COLD WEATHER PAYMENTS – £25

In addition to the Winter Fuel payment, people on Pension Credit are also eligible for cold weather payments. 

These ad-hoc payments are worth £25 every time the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0 degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days.

12. FREE DENTAL TREATMENT – £26.80

You’re entitled to free dental treatment if you or your spouse receives the Guarantee Element of Pension Credit. 

The exact amount you can save depends on whether you need extra work. At the minimum, you’ll save the cost of a check-ups which is £26.80 on the NHS.

Crowns cost as much as £319.10, meaning that you can make big savings if you need extra work.

13. DWP CHRISTMAS BONUS – £10

Every year the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) gives people a bit of extra cash.

Eligible households will get a £10 Christmas bonus this year.

Although it may seem like a small amount, every little helps over the costly holiday season.

As the £10 is a bonus, it won’t need to be repaid, and it won’t affect any other benefit you receive.

The payment is usually paid in the first full week of December.

You’ll qualify if you get the state pension, pension credit and other means-tested benefits.

The £10 Christmas bonus is paid automatically so you don’t need to claim it.

You’ll get it paid into the same account where you normally receive your benefit payments and it should show up in your statement as “DWP XB” or something similar.

14. FREE PRESCRIPTIONS – £9.90

Once you reach 60, you can get free prescriptions from your local pharmacy – prescriptions usually cost £9.90 each in England.

So if you usually buy a single prescription each month you could save £118.80 over the year.

This benefit is automatic and there’s no need to apply.

If you’re 60 or over you’re also entitled to a free NHS sight test, so you should let your optician know when you reach 60 if you haven’t already. 

Eye tests can usually cost between £20 and £30.

FE fundinfo has acquired Netherlands-based Matterhorn Reporting Services, a specialist provider of Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) software reporting and managed services.

It said the acquisition will help asset managers and service providers meet increasingly complex requirements while reducing operational burdens and costs.

FE fundinfo also believes the regulatory landscape has become progressively complex due to changes in compliance obligations and growing demands for transparency.

According to FE fundinfo’s 2024 Asset Manager report, 41% see regulatory changes as a threat over the next three years.

The AIFMD requires asset managers to conduct an extensive data collection process to complete 41 complex questions within the 30-day reporting period.

This can leading to significant pressure to deliver within this timeframe.

Matterhorn Reporting Services has an “easy-to-use” template which simplifies intricate calculations, and its services enhance operational efficiency by feeding back information on errors or easily interpreting regulator feedback.

This, it claims, results in clients experiencing a 50% reduction in reporting times.

This acquisition means FE fundinfo’s clients will benefit from “improved efficiency, reduced operational costs and enhanced compliance accuracy”, consolidating all reporting needs in one place and having access to solutions beyond the Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) space.

FE fundinfo CEO Liam Healy said: “We are continuously exploring solutions that enhance the operational efficiency and increase value for our clients.

“Integrating Matterhorn’s innovative offerings is the latest step in continuing to be the go-to partner for the investment management community in regulatory reporting.

“Our clients, and the industry, require holistic, end-to-end reporting solutions that meet the evolving demands of the industry and help firms adapt to growing regulatory complexity. We look forward to helping them continue to meet this challenge.”

Matterhorn CEO Jeroen Cremer added: “At Matterhorn, we have always been committed to empowering asset managers with tools that simplify and improve regulatory reporting processes.

“By integrating our AIFMD reporting expertise with FE fundinfo’s comprehensive platform, we are confident we can help asset managers navigate the increasingly intricate regulatory landscape with confidence and ease.”

IF YOU already own a business or are thinking of starting one, you’ll understand how important it is to find and retain new customers.

Hurst Group provides all kinds of businesses access to the UK’s most trusted media, potentially connecting you with millions of potential clients or customers.

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Whether you’re a small start-up looking to grow your business or an established brand with years of history, advertisers using Hurst Group can trust that they will get first-class service.

Hurst’s mission is to use its expertise to help businesses of all sizes effectively advertise through all forms of media.

Hurst Group’s three media divisions – Hurst Media Company, Hurst Media Agency and Hurst Media Labs – cover every corner of marketing, supplying advertising that builds trust with brands and their customers.

Hurst Media Company specialises in trusted media publishing and helps SMEs advertise to readers of national newspapers and lifestyle magazines (including those on their websites) through promotional content curated into features across 50+ themes including Homes & Gardens, Food & Drink, Health & Wellbeing, Financial & Legal, Mum & Baby and many more.

The client buys space within a themed feature before providing words and images about their products and services. Hurst then checks the content against the Advertising Standard Authority’s CAP code to ensure copy is compliant, sub-edits to make messaging clear and effective, and then designs the copy to the client’s exact approval.

Each advertorial is then set within a themed feature of the client’s choice, with the client able to choose which feature in which national newspaper, magazine or website they want to be in.

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Hurst Media Agency specialises in trusted media planning and buying across all media channels, including print, digital, television, radio and outdoor. It is a full-service, multi-channel, direct response advertising agency.

The emphasis is always on the clients, who benefit from Hurst’s experience, track record and reliability.

Hurst Media Agency saves you time by doing the work for you, while also saving you money by using their unique market position and relationships with established media owners to buy at the best possible rates.

Hurst Media Labs specialises in trusted media design and marketing services, built to cater for all your branding and design needs. They deliver thousands of pages of content annually and craft attractive, engaging marketing for everything from magazines to billboards, events, websites and more.

Collaboration is the cornerstone of success, so Hurst Media Labs works closely with clients to establish a strong partnership built on trust and open communication.

They’ll become an extension of your teams, using their expertise and industry knowledge to create designs that drive results and are delivered in a timely fashion.

How Hurst helped Diamond Box reach its target audience

One case study from Hurst that is a testament to the brand’s devotion to driving results is Diamond Box.

Previously relying on saturated social media and pay-per-click advertising, this family-owned luxury jeweller saw declining results in the business.

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Hurst Group provided Diamond Box with innovative content marketing and digital advertising solutions across major publishers including SunOnline.

Now Diamond Box enjoys a larger audience and has effectively targeted a mature and more affluent customer base.

In its Trustpilot review, the Diamond Box team said, “Hurst Media [is} now our trusted media partner. The whole team [has] excelled in their level of service and commitment to help us get the best deals for our advertising. [We’d] most certainly recommend, and we intend using them for a long time.”

How Hurst Group can help your business

Digital

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Hurst Group handles all your digital needs, helping to amplify your business’ voice above that of your rivals.

Hurst offers comprehensive digital advertising solutions, including search ads, display ads, social media ads and video ads. 

Search, display or banner ads appear on websites and Apps, in standard sizes defined by the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB). 

Social media ads appear on platforms such as Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn, in various formats and placements, and will often feature creative content to keep potential customers engaged.

You can also opt for video ads to feature on platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, which serve as both a format and a channel for reaching audiences.

Out of Home

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Hoping to reach a wider audience? Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising could be the method for you.

Out-of-home advertising encompasses any advertising that people encounter outside their homes, which could include common forms of media like printed billboards.

These range from small 6-sheets at bus stops and shopping centres to larger scale 96-sheets at major road junctions and motorways.

Digital screens have become increasingly prominent, with 64% of OOH revenue coming from the UK’s 27,000 digital displays. 

But it’s not only limited to bus stops and big screens at shopping complexes.

Additionally, OOH includes ads on buses, trains, trams, and taxis, both inside and outside.

One key benefit of OOH is that it provides large canvases for creative visuals that stand out in a cluttered media landscape.

It offers mass reach, effectively targeting a broad audience with no demographic limitations, as well as building significant brand awareness.

Print

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If you prefer traditional forms of advertising, Hurst offers clients access to all forms of print advertising, including display and classified ads in newspapers and magazines. 

Print media is a highly credible source, meaning that many consumers are more likely to pay attention to ads because they’re coming from a reputable source – essentially providing a “halo effect” for the products or services being advertised.

Display ads appear in the main editorial sections, while classified ads are grouped under specific headings, for example, Motors, Travel, and Property. 

Advertorials and special features are designed to resemble editorial content but are clearly marked as commercial under UK guidelines.

With print advertising, you’ll benefit from longevity, as print products are often kept and shared. 

This method ensures engagement with a loyal readership; you’ll also find that as print media is widely available without needing a device, it offers you the chance to give readers a long-form format for detailed information.

Radio

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We’ve all heard a catchy tune or jingle on the radio and have immediately been able to identify the product or service.

Radio advertising is a cost-effective way to reach a broad audience; it allows for creativity, without expensive visuals, that your customers will remember.

Forms of radio ads include jingles, which leverage the link between music and memory, and spots, which are advertiser-produced commercial messages ideal for brand awareness and a call-to-action response.

Radio’s key benefits include its extensive reach, with millions tuning in to listen to their favourite stations daily, and its ability to create emotional connections with loyal listeners. 

With radio advertising, you can precisely target your designated audience and ensure frequent message repetition, with a low-cost, immediate production.

TV

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With an influx of TV platforms available including satellite, streaming and other television channels, TV advertising is becoming a more affordable way for businesses to advertise.

Forms of TV ads include commercials, which appear during breaks and last 15 to 60 seconds, while sponsorship involves sponsorship credits around specific programs, creating a clear brand association. 

You could also opt for product placement, which features a brand’s products within a program, while infomercials are longer-format ads that normally resemble review content.

Undoubtedly, the key benefits of TV advertising include its extensive reach which engages audiences with sound and visuals. Frequent ad breaks reinforce messages and offer precise targeting and ease of access. 

Learn more about how Hurst Group can build you a trusted advertising campaign at hurstmediacompany.co.uk  

Scottish Widows is the latest insurer to launch its income protection product on Iress’s The Exchange platform.

The new IP product is in addition to Scottish Widows’ existing product offerings on the portal.

The Exchange is a widely-used online sourcing platform for financial advisers in the UK, particularly in the life insurance market.

It allows brokers to compare and source various insurance products, including life insurance, critical illness cover, and income protection, from multiple providers.

Scottish Widows’ protection director, Rose St Louis, said: “Our goal is to help people to be better prepared financially if they were not able to work.

“Our new IP product is the next step on our mission to help people build their financial resilience and make it easier for advisers to serve more of their customers’ needs with a streamlined process and slicker experience through tech partners like Iress.”

Iress’s global head of product for sourcing, Jacqui Durbin, added: “As long-standing partners of Scottish Widows, we’re delighted to support its launch into the Income Protection space through our extensive distribution network on The Exchange.

“It also supports our commitment to offering the broadest range of products to brokers and advisers.”