What is Pension Credit?

What Pension Credit is

Pension Credit is a benefit for people over State Pension age who have a low income. It tops up your weekly income to a set minimum. It has two parts:

• Guarantee Credit: the main part, which tops up your income.
• Savings Credit: a smaller extra amount, only for people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and saved some money for retirement.

You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your home.

How much you get in 2026/27

These amounts apply from April 2026.

Example 1: Jean is single. Her State Pension and small private pension come to £200 a week. Pension Credit tops her up to £238, so she gets £38 a week.

Example 2: Jean also gets Attendance Allowance. If she qualifies for the severe disability extra, her minimum rises to £238 + £86.05 = £324.05 a week. Attendance Allowance itself does not count as income.

Who can get it

You must have reached State Pension age and live in England, Scotland or Wales. If you have a partner, both of you usually need to be over State Pension age. A mixed-age couple can still claim if one of you gets Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age.

What counts as income: State Pension, other pensions, earnings and most benefits, such as Carer's Allowance.

What does not count: Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, PIP, Housing Benefit and the Winter Fuel Payment.

Savings: the first £10,000 is ignored. Every £500 over that counts as £1 a week of income. So £12,000 of savings counts as £4 a week.

Extra help it can unlock

Getting Pension Credit can open the door to:

• Housing Benefit if you rent, or Support for Mortgage Interest if you own
• Council Tax Reduction
• a free TV licence if you are 75 or over
• Cold Weather Payments (or Winter Heating Payments in Scotland)
• the Warm Home Discount
• help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and travel to hospital (if you get the Guarantee Credit part)

Even a small amount of Pension Credit can be worth claiming for these.

How to apply

You can apply up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age. Apply online if you have already claimed your State Pension, or call 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). A friend or relative can call for you. You need your National Insurance number, bank details, and details of your income and savings. Claims can be backdated by 3 months.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

• Scotland and Wales: you claim from DWP in the same way as in England.
• Northern Ireland: Pension Credit is run by the Department for Communities. Apply online, by phone or by post to the Northern Ireland Pension Centre. Claims can also be backdated three months.

Related guides

• Can I get Pension Credit?
• How do I claim Pension Credit?
• How much Pension Credit could I get?
• How do I work out how much Pension Credit I could get?
• Can Pension Credit be backdated?
• What is the Christmas Bonus?

Where these figures come from

• Pension Credit (GOV.UK)
• Pension Credit: what you'll get (GOV.UK)
• Pension Credit: eligibility (GOV.UK)
• Pension Credit: how to claim (GOV.UK)
• Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (DWP)
• Applying for Pension Credit (nidirect)