Pension Credit

What is Pension Credit?

If you're over State Pension age, you can apply for Pension Credit which is extra money (on top of your State Pension payments) to help you cover your living costs. You may even be able to receive this benefit if you have other income, savings or assets.

Additional help is often available if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.

Pension Credit comes in two parts: Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. You may be eligible for one or both parts.

What is Guarantee Credit?

Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level. In 2023-24, this level is:

• £201.05 if you're single
• £306.85 if you're a couple.

What is Savings Credit?

Savings Credit is extra money if you've got some savings or if your income is higher than the basic State Pension. It's available to people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016. In 2023-24, you could get up to:

• £15.94 extra per week if you're single
• £17.84 extra per week if you're a couple.

You may get extra amounts if you have other responsibilities and costs, you can read more about this on the GOV.UK webpage.

Am I eligible to receive Pension Credit?

You will be eligible if you meet the below criteria:

• You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached State Pension age to qualify for Pension Credit. Pension Credit in Northern Ireland.
• If you have a partner, you must include your partner on your application. Both of you need to have reached State Pension age, or one of you is getting Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age.
• Your income - when you apply for Pension Credit your income, including your State Pension payouts, is calculated (if you have a partner, your income is calculated together).
  
  If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investments this will not affect your Pension Credit. If you have more than £10,000, every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week. For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week.

How much could I get?

Use the GOV.UK Pension Credit calculator to work out how much you might get.

Contact the Pension Service helpline if you’re not sure whether you’re eligible for extra amounts, telephone: 0800 731 0469 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)

Before claiming Pension Credit

You can start your application up to four 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 three months. This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.

Have this information handy

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 three 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.

How to apply for Pension Credit

• Claim online on GOV.UK (if you already claim State Pension)

• call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234 and they can fill in the application for you over the phone (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm)
  
  
• 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.

The Pension Service 8
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 1AN

Contact Citizens Advice if you need help filling in the form.

Other support is available if you get Pension Credit

If you get Pension Credit you might also be eligible for other help:

• Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
• Cost of Living Payments
• Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
• a Council Tax discount
• a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over
• help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments, if you get a certain type of Pension Credit
• help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme
• a discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you’re moving house

Page last updated: July 2023.