Pension Credit: who can claim and how do you apply?
By CareFinder Team · Published 2026-06-30 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18
Pension Credit tops up the weekly income of people over State Pension age on a low income. For 2026/27 it tops income up to £238 a week for a single person or £363.25 for a couple. Owning your home does not count, savings up to £10,000 are ignored, and claims can be backdated three months. Apply online, by phone or by post.
Pension Credit tops up the weekly income of people over State Pension age who have a low income. You can claim online, by phone or by post, and a claim can usually be backdated by up to three months. Owning your home does not stop you claiming, and savings of £10,000 or less are ignored. Even a small award is worth having, because it opens the door to other help.
What is Pension Credit?
Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for people who have reached State Pension age. It is paid on top of the State Pension, not instead of it. It has two parts:
- Guarantee Credit tops up weekly income to a minimum level.
- Savings Credit is a smaller extra amount for some people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and have some savings or income of their own.
You may get one or both parts.
How much could you get?
According to GOV.UK's Pension Credit rates page, for 2026/27 Guarantee Credit tops up weekly income to £238 if you are single, or £363.25 for a couple. If your income is below that level, Pension Credit makes up the difference.
You may get more than this if you:
- have a severe disability and get a qualifying benefit such as Attendance Allowance, the daily living part of Personal Independence Payment or the middle or high care rate of Disability Living Allowance
- are a carer and get Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment
- are responsible for a child or young person
- have certain housing costs, such as some service charges or ground rent
This means some people qualify even if their income is above the standard amount. The figures change each April, so check GOV.UK for the current year.
Who can claim?
According to GOV.UK's eligibility page, you must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached State Pension age. Northern Ireland has its own Pension Credit scheme with similar rules; see nidirect's guide to Pension Credit.
State Pension age is currently rising from 66 to 67, gradually, for people born on or after 6 April 1960. You can check your own date on GOV.UK.
Couples
If you live with a partner, you claim together. Normally both of you must have reached State Pension age. There is an exception if one of you already gets Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age. Couples where one partner is younger usually need to claim Universal Credit instead.
How savings and income are treated
- Your home: the home you live in is not counted.
- Savings of £10,000 or less do not affect your claim.
- Savings above £10,000: every £500 over £10,000 is treated as £1 a week of income. So £11,000 counts as £2 a week.
- Income that counts includes the State Pension, other pensions, earnings and most benefits.
- Some disability benefits are ignored, including Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment.
What else can Pension Credit unlock?
Pension Credit often matters more for what it leads to than for the weekly amount. Depending on circumstances, getting it can help you qualify for:
- a free TV licence if you are 75 or over and you, or a partner you live with, get Pension Credit, according to GOV.UK's TV licence guidance
- Housing Benefit if you rent
- Council Tax Reduction from your council
- help with heating costs, such as Cold Weather Payments in England and Wales, and the Warm Home Discount
- free NHS dental treatment, vouchers towards glasses, and help with travel costs to hospital appointments (Guarantee Credit)
Rules for winter heating help have changed in recent years and differ in Scotland, so check GOV.UK or mygov.scot for the current position.
How do you claim?
Before you apply
Use the Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK to get an estimate. Have these to hand:
- National Insurance numbers for you and your partner
- details of income, savings and investments
- bank account details
Ways to apply
The GOV.UK page on how to claim sets out three routes:
- Online, if you have already claimed your State Pension.
- By phone on the Pension Credit claim line, 0800 99 1234.
- By post, using the claim form.
You can apply up to four months before you reach State Pension age. A relative or friend can help, and Citizens Advice and Age UK offer free help with forms.
Backdating
If you apply after reaching State Pension age, your claim can be backdated by up to three months if you were eligible during that time. That is one reason not to delay.
If you are turned down
You can ask the DWP to look at the decision again (a mandatory reconsideration), and then appeal to a tribunal if you still disagree. Citizens Advice can help.
Does Pension Credit matter if a relative is in a care home?
Yes. People in care homes can still get Pension Credit. If the council helps pay the fees, it counts Pension Credit as income in its financial assessment, but leaves the resident a weekly personal expenses allowance. Getting all the benefits your relative is entitled to can reduce the gap between their income and the fees.
Rules for couples change when one partner moves permanently into a care home, because the DWP may then treat them as single people. Tell the DWP about the move and ask for a benefits check.
This is general information, not financial advice. For decisions about care funding, speak to the council and, where needed, an independent adviser.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get Pension Credit if I own my home?
Yes. The home you live in is not counted. Many homeowners on low incomes qualify, especially if they have extra amounts for disability or caring.
Does Pension Credit reduce my State Pension?
No. It is an extra payment on top of the State Pension. It tops up your income if it is below the qualifying level.
How much savings can I have?
There is no fixed upper limit. Savings of £10,000 or less are ignored, and above that every £500 is treated as £1 a week of income. Whether you qualify depends on your total income once that is added.
Can my partner and I claim if one of us is younger?
Usually not. Both partners normally need to have reached State Pension age, unless one of you already gets Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age. Otherwise, you may need to claim Universal Credit.
How far back can a claim be paid?
Up to three months before the date you apply, if you met the conditions during that time.
Key takeaways
- Pension Credit tops up low incomes for people over State Pension age in Great Britain; Northern Ireland has its own scheme.
- It tops up income to a guaranteed minimum level set each April, with extra for disability, caring and some housing costs.
- Owning your home does not count against you, and modest savings are ignored.
- It can unlock a free TV licence at 75, help with housing costs and council tax, and NHS costs.
- Claim online, by phone or by post, and apply promptly: backdating is limited to three months.