Pension Credit
Pension Credit is extra money for people who have reached state pension age, designed to boost your weekly income to a minimum amount, helping you live more comfortably. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
Types of Pension Credit
There are two types of Pension Credit: Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. Both are designed to help people of State Pension age with a low income, but they work in different ways.
Guarantee Credit
Guarantee Credit is the main part of Pension Credit. It provides extra money if your income is below a certain level. If you qualify, Guarantee Credit will top up your income to ensure you have a minimum weekly income.
This help is available to people who have reached State Pension age, either as a single person or a couple, and have a low income.
If your income falls below the minimum level set by the government, Guarantee Credit will make up the difference. The exact levels can be found on the Pension Credit: Eligibility webpage on GOV.UK(opens in a new window).
Savings Credit
Savings Credit is an additional amount of Pension Credit for people who have some savings or income above the basic State Pension level. However, it is only available for people who reached State Pension age before 6th April 2016.
If you reached State Pension age before 6th April 2016 and have savings or income above a certain level, you may qualify for Savings Credit.
It rewards you for having some extra savings or income by providing a small top-up to your income, but is not something available to those in receipt of the New State Pension.
Pension Credit eligibility
You can check if you're eligible for Pension Credit and see how much you could receive by using the GOV.UK Pension Credit calculator(opens in a new window).
How to Claim
The quickest way to apply for Pension Credit is online through the Pension Credit: How to claim webpage on GOV.UK(opens in a new window).
Alternatively, you can apply by phone:
- Telephone: 0800 99 1234
- Textphone: 0800 169 0133
- NGT text relay (if you can’t hear or speak on the phone): Dial 18001 then 0800 99 1234.
Available Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.
What information will I need?
You will require:
- Your National Insurance number
- Information about your income, savings, and investments
- Your bank account details
Further Information
If you receive Pension Credit, you may also be eligible for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support. To make a claim, please visit our new claim webpage(opens in a new window).
If you are awarded Pension credit you may be entitled to other help such as help with your heating costs, NHS prescriptions and TV license, please visit Pension Credit: Overview - GOV.UK for full details.