OVER a million pensioners have received a £326 cost of living payment since July.

And pensioners are set to receive a further £474 in winter bill support in the Autumn.

The free cash forms part of the £650 cost of living payment and £150 Warm Home Discount.

However, pensioners who haven't yet submitted a claim for pension credit should do so now to secure the £800 worth of bill help.

The help will come in handy as some energy bills are predicted to hit £4,000 on average from October.

But with millions missing out on £13 billion of unclaimed benefits now's the time to act.

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Exact date you must claim to get £150 energy bill help this winter

Exact date you need to claim for £650 cost of living payment or miss out on cash

According to the Department for Work and Pensions' own research, an estimated 850,000 households are not claiming pension credit worth £1.7 billion – meaning many are missing out on the cost of living payment and won't be eligible for the Warm Home Discount.

Charity, Age UK is urging older people to put in a claim for pension credit if they think they're eligible.

They previously told The Sun: "We’re urging any older person who’s struggling at the moment to put in a claim for Pension Credit before August 18."

Successful pension credit claims can be backdated by up to three months so pensioners need to put in claims by August 18 to qualify for the cost of living payment and November 18 to secure the Warm Home Discount.

What is pension credit?

Pension credit is offered in two parts – guarantee credit and savings credit. You may be eligible to both.

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Guarantee credit is a top-up to your weekly income and savings credit is an extra boost if you've got saving or a higher income.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “Pension Credit not only provides an income boost and eligibility for the £650 payment, it opens the door to loads of other support including help with energy bills and council tax, NHS dental treatment and a free TV licence (for the over 75s)."

When's the cut off to get the £650 cost of living payment?

You'll need to put in your claim to the DWP by the 18 August to ensure that your claim can be backdated to include at least a day in the original qualifying period (April 26 to May 25).

If you put in your claim any later than this – the DWP may be unable to process your claim in time.

If you miss the deadline your claim won't be backdated all the way back to the qualifying period for the £650 and you'll miss out on the payment.

When's the last date to apply to secure the Warm Home Discount?

If you don't qualify for the Warm Home Discount by August 21, don't worry.

You should be able to qualify for the scheme if you later make a successful claim for benefits within three months.

You'll need to put in a successful claim for pension credit by Friday November 18 to guarantee the automatic £150 discount from your energy bills this winter.

How do I apply for pension credit?

To claim pension credit, you can either:

• Claim online
• Call the pension credit claim line on 0800 99 1234

Before you make a claim it's important to have all your details to hand.

You'll need your National Insurance number, bank account details and information about your income, savings and investments.

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What other help can pensioners get?

Pensioners will get further help later on in the year to help with their energy bills once the temperatures drop.

They'll get an extra £300 one-off payment during the coldest months and those with disabilities will be handed £150.

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