Pension Credit: who qualifies and how to claim

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

Pension Credit is a weekly, tax-free top-up for people over State Pension age on a low income. It has to be claimed, and even a small award can unlock a free TV licence at 75, help with heating bills, Council Tax and NHS costs.

What Pension Credit is

Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension. It is means-tested, which simply means the amount depends on your income and savings. It comes in two parts:

Guarantee Credit tops your weekly income up to a set minimum.
Savings Credit is a small extra for people who saved for retirement. Only people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 can get it.

Who qualifies

You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached State Pension age. (Northern Ireland has its own Pension Credit, run by the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.) If you have a partner, you normally both need to have reached State Pension age, unless one of you already gets Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age.

At the time of writing (November 2026), Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to:

Your situation	Weekly income topped up to
Single	£238
Couple (joint income)	£363.25

You may qualify with a higher income than this if you have a severe disability, care for another adult, are responsible for a child, or have certain housing costs. The extra for severe disability alone can be worth up to £86.05 a week, so it is worth checking even if you are a little over the basic figures.

How savings are treated

The first £10,000 of savings and investments is ignored. Above that, every £500 counts as £1 a week of income, so £11,000 in savings is treated as £2 a week of income. Savings reduce the award gradually; they do not automatically bar you.

What Pension Credit unlocks

This is why the claim matters even if the weekly amount looks small. Depending on which part you get and where you live, Pension Credit can lead to:

a free TV licence once you are 75
the Warm Home Discount of £150 off your electricity bill
Cold Weather Payments in freezing spells
Council Tax Reduction, and Housing Benefit if you rent
free NHS dental treatment and help with glasses if you get Guarantee Credit (see health costs)
cheaper broadband social tariffs and help with water bills

How to claim

Check roughly what you might get with the Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK.
Gather your National Insurance number, bank details, and details of your income, savings and investments (and your partner's).
Claim online at GOV.UK (you need to have claimed your State Pension already), by phone on the Pension Credit claim line, 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm), or by post using a paper form.

A friend or relative can make the call for you. You can apply up to four months before you reach State Pension age. A claim can be backdated by up to three months if you were eligible during that time, so do not put it off.

In Northern Ireland, apply through nidirect.

Tip: If you start getting Attendance Allowance, or your partner dies, or your savings fall, check again. A change like this can turn a "no" into a "yes". See our Attendance Allowance guide.

Common reasons people miss out

"I own my house." Owning your home does not stop you claiming.
"I have savings." Savings reduce the award gradually; they do not automatically stop it.
"I have a small private pension." You may still be under the limit, particularly if you have a disability or a caring role.
"I was turned down years ago." The amounts rise most years and your circumstances change. Try again.
"It is only a few pounds." The linked help can be worth far more than the weekly payment.
Assuming it is automatic. It is not. Nobody gets Pension Credit without claiming.

Watch out: The claim is free. You never need to pay a company to apply for you, and you should not be asked to confirm bank details by text message. If a call feels wrong, hang up and ring 0800 99 1234 yourself.

Common questions

My partner is younger than State Pension age. Can we claim?

Usually not until you have both reached State Pension age, unless one of you already gets Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age. Citizens Advice can check what help applies to you in the meantime.

Does Pension Credit affect my State Pension?

No. Your State Pension stays the same. It is counted as income when Pension Credit is worked out, but claiming does not reduce it.

Do I have to report changes?

Yes. Tell the Pension Service if your income, savings, address or household changes, so that you are paid the right amount.

Where can I get help filling in the form?

Age UK and Citizens Advice both help with Pension Credit claims free of charge, and MoneyHelper has clear, impartial guidance. Our benefits checklist lists what to have ready.