Pension credit

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs, if you’re over state pension age and on a low income.

Pension Credit can also help with housing costs, such as ground rent or service charges.

You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled or responsible for a child or young person.

Pension Credit is separate from your state pension. You can get pension credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.

You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached state pension age to qualify for Pension Credit.

If you have a partner:

  • You must include your partner on your application.

You’ll be eligible if either:

  • You and your partner have both reached state pension age
  • One of you is getting housing benefit for people over state pension age.

A partner is either:

  • Your husband, wife or civil partner - if you live with them.
  • Someone you live with as a couple, without being married or in a civil partnership.

 You can check your eligibility by visiting https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility

To find out if you’re eligible for Pension Credit and how much you could get, you can use the Pension Credit Calculator.

You’ll need details of:

  • Earnings, benefits and pensions.
  • Savings and investments.
  • You’ll need the same details for your partner if you have one.

Apply online   

This site will guide you through the application process. There’s plenty of support on there if you need it when making your claim online. Or apply by calling the Pension Credit claim line 0800 99 1234.

You can start your application up to 4 months before you reach state pension age.

You can apply any time after you reach state pension age but your application can only be backdated by 3 months. This means you can get up to 3 months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.

Visit www.gov.uk/pension-credit for further information on Pension Credit and what it means.