State pensioners can get freebies and discounts worth £11,600 even after Winter Fuel Payment cuts

This payment used to be worth £300 but increased to £600 in recent years due to inflation.

It is no longer given to all people who are over state pension age, just those claiming means-tested benefits and Pension Credit.

Thousands of pensioners are urged to check if they can claim Pension Credit as this is a gateway benefit to many other discounts and freebies.

Pensioners can still take advantage of subsidy schemes that include these other discounts and freebies worth up to £11,600.

A Government spokesperson said: "This Government is committed to pensioners - protecting the triple lock, keeping energy bills low through our Warm Homes Plan, and cutting NHS waiting lists – bringing real stability to people’s lives.

"We said we would be honest with the public and, given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, this Government must take difficult decisions to fix the foundations of the economy.

"In these circumstances, it is right that Winter Fuel Payments are targeted at those in most need, and we will work with Local Authorities to boost the uptake of Pension Credit, reaching the many pensioners who could still benefit from this year's Winter Fuel Payments."

Pension Credit - £3,900

Pension Credit provides those low incomes above state pension age extra income to cover day-to-day living costs.

Claimants will see their weekly income topped up to £218.15 a week, or to £332.95 if they're in a couple.

Around 800,000 out of 2.5 million eligible Britons do not claim it. This year’s qualifying week runs from Monday, September 16 to Sunday, September 22, during which time people must claim Pension Credit in order that they may qualify for their Winter Fuel Payment.

Attendance Allowance - £5,644

Attendance allowance is designed to cover the extra costs associated with having a disability and is worth up to £5,644.60 a year.

It is for those who have reached state pension age and have certain health conditions, physical or mental. Britons could get up to £434.20 every four weeks.

National Insurance Cut — £1,394

Britons stop paying national insurance (NI) when they reach state pension age, even if they are still working. An employee earning £30,000 per annum could save £1,394.40 in tax year 2024/25 assuming that the current NI threshold remains at£12,570 per annum.

Free Prescriptions — £119

Those aged below 16 years and above 59 years as well as full-time students who are between 16–18 years old are entitled to free prescriptions. Universal Credit claimants can also qualify if they earned no more than £435 (£935 if they feature child elements or limited work capabilities).

Once Britons reach 60, they can also get free prescriptions from their 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.

Those 60 or over are also entitled to a free NHS sight test, so they should let their optician know when they reach 60 if they haven't already.

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

Free bus pass - £128

People can get an older person's bus pass free of charge when they reach state pension age, which is currently 66 for both women and men. (This is different in London).

Residents in London will be able to travel for free on buses, tubes and other transport when they hit 60, but only within the city.

Free TV Licence — £169

Those 75 or older can get a TV licence for free if they watch live television and stream on BBC iPlayer. This must be accompanied by the receipt of Pension Credit.

Discounted Rail Fare — £142

Senior Railcard allows elderly people to obtain subsidized railway tickets; it costs £30 annually or £70 for three years. With this card, they can save one-third on all rail journeys, with average annual savings for cardholders being equal to £96.

Cold weather payment - £25

Britons can get £25 when temperatures are recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below, on average, for seven consecutive days. People don’t need to apply for the cold weather payment as it’s paid automatically to those who are eligible.

Council Tax — £2,065

Age, income, savings, household composition and council tax payments determine council tax discounts.

Certain senior citizens may not pay anything depending on their situation. The mean band D council tax in 2023/24 was £2065 showing an increase of 5.1 per cent from the previous year’s rates.