Have You Claimed Pension Credits?
Pension Credit is a benefit for people over State Pension age. It tops up your income if you’re struggling to make ends meet.
How much could I get?
Pension Credit comes in two parts:
Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level. For the financial year April 2024 to March 2025 this is:
- £218.15 if you’re single.
- £332.95 if you’re a couple.
Savings Credit is extra money if you’ve got some savings or your income is higher than the basic State Pension. It’s only available to people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016. You could get up to:
- £17.01 extra per week if you’re single.
- £19.04 if you’re a couple.
To find out if you are eligible for Pension Credits, you can use this calculator: Pension Credit calculator – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Could Pension Credit help me get other benefits?
If you’re eligible, Pension Credit will not only give you a bit of extra cash, it could also help you get some other entitlements too:
- You may be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment – If you were born before 23 September 1958 you could get either £200 or £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2024 to 2025.
- You may receive a Cold Weather Payment of £25 when the temperature is 0°C or below for 7 days in a row.
- You may be eligible for the Warm Home Discount – this is a £150 discount on your bills if you get Pension Credit or live in a low-income household.
- It’s unlikely you’ll have to pay Council Tax (unless other people live with you).
- You’ll get free NHS dental treatment, and you can claim help towards the cost of glasses and travel to hospital.
- You may get your rent paid in full by Housing Benefit.
- If you’re a carer, you may get an extra amount known as Carer Premium, or Carer Addition if it’s paid with Pension Credit. This is worth up to £45.60 a week.
- You may get an additional amount of £81.50 a week for severe disability.
- Since 1 August 2020, if you’re 75 and over you’ll need to be claiming Pension Credit to get a free TV licence.
How to claim
You can start your application up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age.
You can apply any time after you reach State Pension age but your application can only be backdated by 3 months. This means you can get up to 3 months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.
Information you’ll need
You’ll need the following information about you and your partner if you have one:
- National Insurance number
- information about any income, savings and investments you have
- information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want to backdate your application to (usually 3 months ago or the date you reached State Pension age)
You’ll also need your bank account details. Depending on how you apply, you may also be asked for your bank or building society name, sort code and account number.
Apply online
You can use the online service if you have already applied for your State Pension.
Apply by phone
A friend or family member can call for you if you cannot use the phone.
Pension Credit claim line (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)
Telephone: 0800 99 1234
Textphone: 0800 169 0133
Apply by post
To apply by post, print out and fill in the Pension Credit claim form or call the claim line to request a form.
Send the claim form to the Pension Service, or ask someone to do it for you.
Freepost DWP Pensions Service 3
(Do not write anything except the freepost address on the envelope. You do not need a postcode or a stamp.)
Contact a voluntary organisation like Citizens Advice or Age UK if you need help with the form.