Pension Credit
Extra Money to Help with Living Costs
Pension Credit tops up your weekly income if it's below a certain amount and can help with housing costs, council tax, and heating bills.
What is Pension Credit?
Pension Credit is a benefit that tops up your weekly income if it's below a certain amount. It's separate from your State Pension and you can claim it whether you're working or not.
Pension Credit can also help with:
- Housing costs
- Council Tax reduction
- Heating costs (Warm Home Discount)
- Free TV licence (if you're 75 or over)
- Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses, and prescriptions
Two Types of Pension Credit
Guarantee Credit
Tops up your weekly income to a minimum amount:
- £227.10 if you're single
- £346.60 if you have a partner
You may get extra if you have a disability, care for someone, or have housing costs.
Savings Credit
Extra money if you saved some money for retirement:
- Up to £17.30 a week if you're single
- Up to £19.36 a week for couples
Only available if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.
Who Can Apply?
You may be eligible for Pension Credit if:
What counts as income?
Your income includes:
- • State Pension
- • Other pensions
- • Earnings from employment or self-employment
- • Most social security benefits
Savings: If you have more than £10,000 in savings, every £500 over this amount counts as £1 weekly income.
Example Scenarios
Example 1: Single Person
Sarah is 68 and receives a State Pension of £160 per week. She has no other income.
Pension Credit: Sarah could receive around £58 per week in Guarantee Credit to bring her income up to £218.15.
Example 2: Couple
John and Mary are both over State Pension age. Their combined weekly income from pensions is £280.
Pension Credit: They could receive around £53 per week to bring their income up to £332.95.
Example 3: With Savings
David is 70 with a State Pension of £170 per week and £15,000 in savings.
Pension Credit: £5,000 of his savings (over £10,000) counts as £10 weekly income. He could still receive around £38 per week in Guarantee Credit.
How We Help You Apply
Benefits Check
We'll calculate your total weekly income and determine if you're eligible for Pension Credit.
Gather Information
We'll help you collect details about your income, savings, and any housing costs.
Complete Application
We can help you complete the application at home or on the phone.
Follow Up
Claims are usually processed within 5 weeks. If approved, you'll be backdated to the date of your claim.
Important to Know
Backdating:
Your Pension Credit can be backdated for up to 3 months, so it's worth claiming even if you think you should have applied earlier.
Working:
You can still claim Pension Credit if you're working. Your earnings will be taken into account when calculating your entitlement.
Other Benefits:
Claiming Pension Credit can help you qualify for other support like Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and help with health costs.
Could You Be Missing Out on Pension Credit?
Let us help you check your eligibility and apply