Eligibility
To qualify for Pension Credit, you must live in England, Scotland, or Wales and have reached state pension age.
If you have a partner
When you apply for Pension Credit, it’s essential to include your partner in your application. You’ll be eligible if either of the following applies:
- Both you and your partner have reached State Pension age.
- One of you is receiving Housing Benefit for individuals over State Pension age.
A partner may be defined as:
- Your husband, wife, or civil partner, provided you live together.
- Someone you cohabit as a couple with, without being married or in a civil partnership.
Your income
When you apply for Pension Credit, your income will be assessed. If you have a partner, your combined income will be taken into account. Pension Credit can provide financial assistance for seniors by topping up:
- Your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single.
- Your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner.
If your income exceeds these thresholds, you might still qualify for Pension Credit if you have a disability, care for someone, possess savings, or have housing costs.
What counts as income
Your income includes components such as:
- State Pension
- Other pensions
- Earnings from employment and self-employment
- Most social security benefits, for example, Carer’s Allowance.
What does not count as income
Not all benefits are considered as income when you apply for Pension Credit. The following benefits are excluded:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Christmas Bonus
- Child Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Social fund payments like Winter Fuel Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction.
How to claim
You can initiate your application for Pension Credit up to 4 months before reaching state pension age. You may apply at any time post reaching State Pension age, but your application can only be backdated by a maximum of 3 months. This means you could receive up to 3 months of Pension Credit in your initial payment if you were eligible during that period.
Information you’ll need
Prepare the following information regarding you and your partner (if applicable):
- National Insurance number
- Information about your income, savings, and investments
- Details about your income, savings, and investments as of the date you want to backdate your application to (usually 3 months prior or the date you reached State Pension age).
Additionally, have your bank account details ready. Depending on your application method, you may also need to provide your bank or building society name, sort code, and account number.
Apply online
If you have already applied for your State Pension, you can use the online service to apply for Pension Credit by following the link below:
https://apply-for-pension-credit.service.gov.uk/start
Apply by phone
For assistance, you can reach the Pension Credit claim line by calling:
Telephone: 0800 99 1234