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.
If you are in a couple, you will both need to have reached state pension age. You are considered a couple if you live together, you do not have to be married or in a civil partnership. For couples, one partner applies and then provides income and savings details for both partners.
Your income
When you apply for Pension Credit, your current income and savings are assessed. If you have a partner, your joint income and savings are assessed.
Pension Credit tops up your:
- weekly income to £218.15 if you are single
- joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner
If your income is higher than the above figures, you might still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability (and are in receipt of a disability benefit), you care for someone, you have savings, or you have housing costs.
For example, if you are single, receive a State Pension of £200 weekly and are in receipt of Attendance Allowance, your potential entitlement to Pension Credit would be £99.65, or if you are not in receipt of Attendance Allowance, your potential entitlement to Pension Credit would be £18.15.
What income is included in the calculations:
- State Pension
- other pensions
- earnings from employment and self-employment
- some social security benefits, for example, Carer’s Allowance
What income is not included in the calculations:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Christmas Bonus
- Child Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Social fund payments like the Winter Fuel Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
If you have deferred your pension
If you are entitled to a personal or workplace pension and you have not claimed it yet, the amount you would expect to get still counts as income.
Other entitlements you may be eligible for
If you get Pension Credit, there may be additional entitlements such as:
- Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
- Winter Fuel Payment
- Council Tax reduction
- A free TV Licence if you’re aged 75 or over
- NHS costs, such as glasses and transport costs
- Warm Home Discount scheme
- Support with Mortgage interest, if you own the property you live in