To make an initial claim, a person will need to apply through either their local council or as part of a pension credit claim.

Claims can be made in advance by up to 13 weeks or 17 weeks if the claimant is aged 60 or over.

It’s also possible to get a claim backdated but to do this, claimants will need to contact their local councils.

Where a claimant is unhappy with a councils decision or action, they will be able to ask the council to reconsider it and if necessary, they can also appeal it.