Pension Credit
Pension Credit is a benefit for people over State Pension age on a low income. Find out whether you qualify, how to claim and what information you need to apply.
What is Pension Credit?
Pension Credit can top up your State Pension if you have a low income. It's a means-tested benefit, which means it takes into account your income and savings.
The qualifying age for getting Pension Credit is State Pension age. This is currently 66 years old, but will start gradually increasing from May 2026. Check your State Pension age on the GOV.UK website.
Couples who make a new claim for Pension Credit must both be over pension age. If 1 person is over pension age and the other is under pension age, the couple must claim Universal Credit instead. Read our information about Universal Credit.
Pension Credit is made up of 2 parts:
- Guarantee Credit
- Savings Credit
Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to either 1, or both parts. Savings Credit is currently being phased out (see below for details).
To claim Pension Credit, you must:
- be present in Great Britain or Northern Ireland
- be 'habitually resident' and have a 'right to reside' in the UK, and
- not be subject to immigration control.
What is Guarantee Credit?
This part of Pension Credit can top up your income (such as your State Pension) to a set amount, to give you (and your partner, if you have one) a basic income to live on.
You can get extra amounts if you have certain housing costs, a severe disability or caring responsibilities.
Even if you don't get much Guarantee Credit, it's always worth claiming as it can give access to other benefits (see 'Does Pension Credit give access to other benefits?' below).
How is Guarantee Credit calculated?
Guarantee Credit is calculated by comparing your income with a set figure called the 'Appropriate Minimum Guarantee'. If your income is less than this amount, you're paid the balance as Guarantee Credit.
The Appropriate Minimum Guarantee is a standard rate of £227.10 a week if you're a single person and £346.60 a week for a couple.
You may qualify for extra amounts on top of this standard rate:
- Severe disability – single person: £82.90
- Severe disability – couple (1 qualifies): £82.90
- Severe disability – couple (both qualify): £165.80
- Carer: £46.40
You may also qualify for an extra amount if you're responsible for children.
The carer premium
The £46.40 a week 'carer premium' is available if you're eligible for Carer's Allowance (England, Wales or Northern Ireland) or Carer Support Payment (Scotland).
You can get this amount in your Pension Credit even if you're not actually paid Carer's Allowance/Carer Support Payment (for example, because of another 'overlapping' benefit, such as State Pension).
Read our information about Carer's Allowance, and Carer Support Payment.
What income and savings are taken into account?
All your income is taken into account when calculating Guarantee Credit, unless it's specifically ignored.
For example, some benefits that aren't counted are:
- Housing Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)
- Attendance Allowance
- Pension Age Disability Payment (Scotland only)
Earnings are taken into account after tax, National Insurance contributions and half of any contributions to a private pension are deducted.
A small additional amount of your earnings isn't counted – between £5 and £20 a week, depending on your circumstances. Savings below £10,000 will have no effect on your entitlement.
You'll be counted as having an extra £1 a week income for every £500 (or part of £500) of savings that you have above £10,000.
Certain types of capital, such as the value of your home, personal possessions and the surrender value of insurance policies won't be counted.
What is Savings Credit?
Savings Credit was created to encourage people with a small income to save for retirement.
Savings Credit is currently being phased out. It may still be paid if you (and your partner, if you have one) had reached State Pension age by 6 April 2016 and have a qualifying income.
The Savings Credit calculation is complex and the amounts paid are relatively small. The most you can get is £17.30 a week if you're single or £19.36 a week for a couple.
How do I claim Pension Credit?
Apply online on the GOV.UK website.
In England, Scotland and Wales, you can also apply by calling 0800 99 1234 (textphone 0800 169 0133). In Northern Ireland, call 0808 100 6165.
You'll need:
- your National Insurance number
- information about any money you have coming in
- details of any savings and investments you have
- information on any service charges you have to pay for your home (for example, mortgage interest payments)
- details of the bank account you'd like the Pension Credit paid into.
Does Pension Credit give access to other benefits?
If you're awarded the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, you may be entitled to:
- full help with your rent
- help from your local council towards your Council Tax
- help with NHS charges, vouchers for glasses and hospital travel fares.
If you're entitled to either part of Pension Credit, you may be able to get a Funeral Expenses Payment to help with funeral expenses if a partner, child, close relative or close friend has died.
You'll also be entitled to a free TV licence if you’re over 75 and receive either part of Pension Credit.
You might also qualify for help to cover the interest payments on your mortgage or eligible home improvement loan through a Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loan.
Help with heating and fuel
If you receive the Guarantee part of Pension Credit you'll automatically receive the £150 one-off Warm Home Discount off your fuel bills.
If you're in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, receiving Pension Credit also means you'll automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment in 2025.
This is a one-off payment of £200 if you were born between 23 September 1945 and 22 September 1959. It's £300 if you were born before this.
You'll also get the Cold Weather Payment of £25. This is paid when the temperature averages 0°C for 7 consecutive days.
If you're in Scotland and receive Pension Credit, you'll automatically get the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. This is a one-off payment of £203.40 if you were born between 23 September 1945 and 22 September 1959. It's £305.10 if you were born before this.
You'll also received the Winter Heating Payment, a one-off payment of £59.75 paid regardless of the weather.
Support to understand benefits
Our helpline and Parkinson's local advisers can help you understand what financial support is available and make sure you're claiming the money you're entitled to.
Download this information
Download our Pension Credit information (PDF, 191KB).
We know lots of people would rather have something in their hands to read rather than look at a screen, so you can order printed copies of our information by post, phone or email.
Last updated July 2025.
If you'd like to find out more about how we put our information together, including references and the sources of evidence we use, please contact us at [email protected].