The government has made winter fuel payments accessible only to those on pension credit. As it is encouraging pensioners to check if they qualify for the benefit, some pension funds are doing the same.  

Energy bills are rising by an average of about £149 a year from Tuesday, as the energy price cap is being increased by 10% to £1,717 a year.  

There has been widespread political debate over the impact the cuts to winter fuel payments will have on pensioners on low incomes, whose age also makes them susceptible to the cold. This is despite pensioners being less than half as likely to experience fuel stress as couples with children, and less than a third as likely as single parents, according to the Resolution Foundation. Fuel stress is defined as needing to spend more than 10% of income after housing costs on heating.  

Take-up of pension credit – worth £3,900 a year for those on less than £218 a week – is notoriously low, estimated by the government to be just 63%. The government has said it would seek to increase this and has been running a campaign to encourage people to claim the benefit. But could a message from the pension scheme work better?  

The Sainsbury’s Pension Scheme has also highlighted the benefit to its members, noting on its website that receiving it will give access to a free TV licence among others, with a link to the government website.  

Trustees have a duty to support members in making the most of their income in retirement, said Simon Grover, director at communications consultancy Quietroom, arguing that this falls into that remit. Trustees should therefore consider mentioning pension credit to members, he said, as many might not realise they are eligible.  

“We have seen a lot of schemes include general information on finances for pensioners, which can include anything from claiming benefits through to penny-saving tips. Including such guidance can help build trust with members, by showing that you have a sense of their priorities and worries,” he advised.  

Grover believes that members tend to respond better to a message from their scheme or former employer than to a general government message because they have a closer connection to the source of the information.   

“Familiarity and trust in the source can make the information feel more relevant and reliable,” he remarked.  

Have you encouraged your scheme members to check if they are eligible for pension credit?