The DWP has shared details of major changes to Pension Credit that will affect all applications for the benefit.

Ministers provided the update after the Government was asked in Parliament about what it was doing to reduce the complexity of the Pension Credit application form.

The benefit supports people of state pension age on low incomes, topping up their income and providing access to other support.

This includes a top-up to £218.15 a week for single claimants and up to £332.95 for couples, although you can get extra amounts on top of this depending on your situation, such as if you care for another adult.

Pensions minister Torsten Bell provided a response, saying that the DWP is working to modernise the service and simplify the application.

He explained: “A key objective of DWP’s Service Modernisation Programme is to utilise end user research to understand how the application process should operate in the future and consider the opportunities on how services can be more user friendly and easily accessible for citizens.

“To that end we are streamlining all Pension Credit application routes by using information held internally to reduce the number of questions the citizen must answer.”

You can make your claim online, over the phone or by post. Mr Bell spoke about the how people tend to apply, saying: “By far, the most popular way to claim is online where a claim can be made 24/7 with the help of a family member, a friend or a third party.

“The online claim form means it now takes just 16 minutes on average to complete, with 90 per cent of new customers applying using the simple online form, or over the phone. With the telephone service, the caller will be guided through the claim process.”

The minister also said that the DWP will keep the Pension Credit application process “under review”. You can apply for the benefit of up to four months before you reach state pension age, which is currently 66 for both men and women.

You can get in your application any time after you reach state pension age, and you can backdate your application by up to three months.

Claiming the benefit provides access to a range of other Government support, such as the Winter Fuel Payment, help towards NHS costs and a free TV licence for claimants aged 75 and over.

Benefit payments are increasing 1.7% in April, including Pension Credit. Under the new rates, the income top-up for single claimants will go up to £227.10 a week while the top-up for couples will increase to £346.60 a week.

To find out if you are entitled to any benefits, you can use an online benefits calculator, such as the one on the Turn2us website.