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Are you eligible for Pension Credits?
Could you be eligible for Pension Credits to help you once you have passed the official retirement age?
Are you eligible for Pension Credits? Many people don’t realise they are. According to a Government report last year, just six in 10 people who are entitled to pension credit claimed it in 2022.
Yet the average award is worth over £3,500 per year and it can open doors to other benefits, such as free TV licence and cost-of-living payments.
The Government says research shows the main reasons why people don’t apply are perceived ineligibility and stigma, with people saying they ‘don’t like asking for benefits’.
So what is Pension Credit? It is a weekly payment that is available to people in England, Scotland and Wales who are past the State Pension Age and are on a low income. If you have a partner you will need to include them on an application and they will also need to be past State Pension Age or one of you will need to be past State Pension Age and in receipt of housing benefit.
When you apply your income will be calculated, including your joint income if you have a partner.
What you’ll get
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 might still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, care for someone, have savings or you have housing costs.
You may get extra amounts if you have other responsibilities and costs, such as housing, a severe disability and caring costs/responsibilities.
To get an idea of how much you might be paid, you can use the Pension Credit calculator.
How to claim Pension Credit
You can apply online here. You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age and can apply any time after you reach State Pension age, but your application can only be backdated by three months.
More information here.
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