Pension Credit

Home   >  News   >  Pension Credit

Pension Credit

 

What is Pension Credit?

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over the state pension age and on a low income. It can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges, and potentially help you access additional benefits too.

There are two parts to Pensions Credit and you might be eligible for one or both. These are:

  • Guarantee Credit
  • Savings Credit

Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to a minimum amount. Savings Credit is a small top-up for people who have a modest amount of income or savings, but it’s only available if you reached State Pension age before 6th April 2016.

If you get Pension Credit you can also get other help such as:

  • Housing Benefit (if you rent the property you live in)
  • Winter Fuel Payment
  • Support for Mortgage Interest (if you own the property you live in)
  • A Council Tax Discount
  • A free TV license if you’re 75+
  • Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments (if you receive 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 home

If you think you won’t get much Pension Credit, it’s still worth looking into and applying.

 

What Could I Get?

When you apply for Pension Credit your income is calculated. If you have a partner, your income is calculated together. If your partner isn’t over State Pension age then you typically can’t claim it yet, unless they have additional needs such as a disability or a caring responsibility.

Pension Credit tops up:

  • Your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single
  • Your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner

If your income is higher you may still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings, or you have housing costs.

If you have a severe disability you could get an extra £81.50 a week if you receive:

  • Attendance Allowance
  • The middle or highest rate from the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
  • The daily component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • Armed Forces Independent Payment
  • The daily living component of Adult Disability Payment (ADP) at the standard or enhanced rate

If you care for another adult you could get an extra £45.60 a week if:

  • You get Carer’s Allowance
  • You get Carer Support Payments
  • You’ve claimed Carer’s Allowance but are not being paid because you already get another benefit paying a higher amount

If you’re responsible for children or young people you could get an extra £66.29 a week for each child/young person you’re responsible for. This is increased to £76.79 a week for the first child if they were born before 6th April 2017. If the child or young person you’re caring for is disabled, you could also get an extra amount of either:

  • £35.93 per week if they get DLA, PIP, or ADP
  • £112.21 a week if they’re blind or they get the highest rate care component of DLA or CDP, or the enhanced daily living component of PIP or ADP

 

How Do I Apply?

You can calculate if you’re eligible for Pension Credit and estimate how much you can get via the link here: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator

You can also calculate which benefits you may also be entitled to here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/benefits-calculator

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 3 months. This means you can get up to 3 months Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.

Additional Information

Cold Weather Payments

Cold Weather Payments offer support when temperatures reach, or are expected to reach zero degrees Celsius or below for 7 consecutive days. You can receive £25 for each 7 day period between 1st November 2024 and 31st March 2025.

You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting:

  • Pension Credit
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit
  • Support for Mortgage Interest

You don’t need to apply for Cold Weather Payments – if you’re eligible you should be paid automatically. If you believe you’re entitled to this but haven’t received it, you can:

  • Tell the Pension Service or JobCentre Plus
  • Sign into your Universal Credit account and add a note to your journal
  • If you don’t have an online account, you can ring the Universal Credit helpline instead (the phone number is on letters about your Universal Credit claim)

 

Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Payment gives people up to £300 to help them pay their heating bills for winter 2024-2025. If you were born before 23rd September 1958 you will be eligible, and you may also be eligible if you or your partner receive certain benefits.

Most people will receive a Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible. You don’t need to claim it if you receive any of the following:

  • Pension Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Income Support
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Working Tax Credit

If you’re not sure you’re eligible, you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre via:

Winter Fuel Payment Centre online: https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/contact-winter-fuel-payments-centre/date-filter

 

 

Hot Links