How much is Pension Credit and can I get it?    

What is Pension Credit?

Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit paid to you to help with your living costs, You receive it if you are over state pension age and are on a low income. This article highlights how much of the benefit you can get.

The two parts of this benefit are Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit for you and a partner.

Being on Pension Credit means you can receive more financial help, e.g. assistance with housing costs, council tax, heating bills and the Winter Fuel Payment.

If I have Pension Credit do I qualify for Winter Fuel Payment?

When you get this benefit, you could also get the Winter Fuel Payment.

In September 2024, the government announced it will restrict Winter Fuel Payments to only those pensioners who are receiving Pension Credit. If you are a pensioner, check if you are eligible for Pension Credit to secure the Winter Fuel Payment (worth up to £300 per household).  

Pensioners should apply for Pension Credit by 21 December 2024. This is deadline for making a backdated claim, in order to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.  

If you are claiming Pension Credit, you could also claim:  

• Housing Benefit, if you rent the property you live in.
• Support for Mortgage Interest, if you own the property you live in.
• A Council Tax discount.
• A free TV licence, if you are aged 75 or over.
• Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments.
• Help with heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

How much is Pension Credit 2025/26?

If you are of state pension age, you can claim Pension Credit (Standard Minimum Guarantee) in the 2025/26 tax year, which tops up:

• your income to £227.10 a week, if you’re single. This is an increase of £8.95 a week, when compared to 2024/25.
• your joint weekly income to £346.60 a week, if you are in a couple. This is a rise of £13.65 a week when compared to 2024/25.

From April 2025, the Pension Credit Standard Minimum Guarantee increased by 4.1%, meaning an annual increase of £465 in 2025-26 in the single pensioner guarantee and £710 in the couple guarantee.

How much is Pension Credit 2024/2025?

If you are of state pension age, Pension Credit in the 2024/25 tax year tops up:

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

You may get extra money, if you have other responsibilities and costs. The top up and extra amounts are known as ‘Guarantee Credit’.

Individuals with a severe disability, could get an extra £81.50 a week, if you receive:

• Attendance Allowance.
• Disability Living Allowance (the middle or highest rate from the care element of allowance).
• Personal Independence Payment (the daily living element).
• Armed Forces Independence Payment.
• Adult Disability Payment (the daily living element).

If caring for another adult, you could receive an extra £45.60 a week, if you receive:

• Carer’s Allowance.
• Carer Support Payment.
• you’ve claimed Carer’s Allowance but are not being paid because you already receive another benefit paying a higher amount.

Individuals who are responsible for a child or young person aged under 20 that lives with you, could receive an extra £66.29 a week for each child/young person.

This is increased to £76.79 a week for the first child (if they were born before 6 April 2017).

If a child/ young person you are responsible for is disabled, you could receive an extra amount of either:

• £35.93 a week if they get Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Adult Disability Payment.

Or

• £112.21 a week. This applies if they are blind or get Disability Living Allowance or the enhanced daily living component of Personal Independence Payment or Adult Disability Payment.

If you have housing costs, you could receive an extra amount to cover these costs, such as

• ground rent if your property is a leasehold.
• service charges.

How much is Savings Credit?

When you have savings or another pension, you could get the ‘Savings Credit’ element of Pension Credit. This applies if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and you saved some money for retirement, e,g. a workplace pension.

You can receive:

• Up to £17.01 a week if you’re single.
• Up to £19.04 a week, if you have a partner.

How much savings is too much for Pension Credit?   

If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investments, this will not affect your Pension Credit.

With 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 can I find out how much Pension Credit I can get?  

To find out how much you could get, use the Department for Work and Pensions’ Pension Credit calculator.

Am I eligible for Pension Credit?

Around 1.4 million pensioners are already receiving Pension Credit. There are up to an estimated 880,000 households eligible for the support who are yet to claim, the government stated in September 2024.

You must live in England, Scotland or Wales to receive this benefit. You can find out about pension credit in Northern Ireland here.  

When you apply, your income is calculated. If you have a partner, your income is calculated together. Income includes state pension, other pensions, earnings from employment and self-employment, most social security benefits.

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

Individuals who are not sure if you are eligible for extra amounts, you can contact the Pension Service helpline on 0800 731 0469.

How can I apply?

You can apply for Pension Credit up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age.

You can make applications for Pension Credit via: 

•Website: gov.uk.

•Telephone: 0800 99 1234.

• Post. To apply by post print out and fill in the Pension Credit claim form. You can also call the claim line 0800 99 1234 to request an application form. Post the completed application form to the Pension Service’s postal address which is: Freepost DWP Pensions Service 3. You do not need a postcode or a stamp.