With winter in full swing and the cost of living crisis biting, having some extra money in your back pocket would be a welcome relief for many pensioners. And now such a salve could be on the cards for a good proportion of retired Brits, but only if they are aged 80 or over. 

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) could increase incomes by up to £422.80 per month for the lucky octogenarians and upwards with something known as the over-80 pension. The measure acts as a top‑up for pensioners who receive a low basic state pension or who do not receive one at all.

It is paid to retirees aged 80 and over who receive a basic state pension of £105.70 per week or less, or who receive no basic state pension. Men born before April 6, 1951, and women born before April 6, 1953, may qualify for the basic state pension, which is currently worth up to £176.45 per week for those receiving the full amount — equivalent to £9,145.40 per year.

To receive the full basic state pension, men born between 1945 and 1951 usually need 30 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions, though some may need up to 44 years depending on their circumstances.

Women typically need 30 qualifying years if born between 1950 and 1953, or 39 years if born before 1950.

GB News reports pensioners whose basic state pension falls below £105.70 per week can receive a top‑up through the over‑80 pension to bring their total weekly income up to this level.

The payment is not issued separately; instead, it increases existing basic state pension payments, which are usually paid every four weeks.

Because the top‑up follows the same schedule, eligible pensioners can receive up to £422.80 extra per month from the DWP.

The exact amount depends on how much basic state pension a claimant already receives.

The DWP said: “An 80‑year‑old who gets £43 per week basic State Pension would get an extra £62.70 to top up their weekly amount to £105.70.”

The DWP added: “To be eligible, you must get either a basic State Pension of less than £105.70 a week, or no basic State Pension at all.

“If you do not get the basic State Pension or you get less than £105.70 a week, you could get the difference paid up to this amount.”

People cannot receive the over‑80 pension if they reached state pension age on or after April 6, 2016. State pension age is currently 66 for both men and women. The payment is only available from age 80, although applications can be made up to three months before a person’s 80th birthday.

You can get a claim form from either your local Jobcentre Plus or the Pension Service. The earliest you can claim is 3 months before your 80th birthday.

Call the Pension Service to get a claim form sent to you. Telephone: 0800 731 7898

Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 7898

British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer – find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet

Welsh language: 0800 731 7936

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (except public holidays).