Pension Credit

Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age, to help with the cost of living.

You could be entitled to Pension Credit if your weekly income is less than £227.10 if you are single, or £346.60 for a couple. If you are a couple your combined income and capital are taken into account in the calculation.

To work out your entitlement to Pension Credit the Government
will look at:

• Your income. This includes your State Pension and private pensions, but disability benefits such as Adult Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance are ignored.
• Your capital and savings. There is no upper savings limit for claiming Guarantee Pension Credit. If you have capital and savings over £10,000, this is assumed to generate a weekly income of £1 for every £500, or part of £500, you have over
  £10,000. The value of your normal home is ignored.
• Your circumstances. If you receive a disability-related benefit, are an unpaid carer, have dependent children or you have to pay service charges to live in your home, you may be entitled to more than the basic amount. Service charges could include reasonable charges for maintenance of gardens, lifts and entry phones, and cleaning of communal areas and windows.

There are two parts to Pension Credit: Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. Savings Credit is being phased out and you can only claim it if you reached State Pension age before 6th April 2016.

Benefit Workshops

The benefits system is complicated. It can be difficult to work out what you are entitled to, and how to claim it. Find out more about joining one of our Benefit Workshops here. 

Benefit Calculator

Our Benefit Calculator can help you find out what benefits you could be owed. The calculator is easy to use and can tell you if you're entitled to claim extra money based on the information you provide. Try out our benefits calculator here.