About Pension Credit
Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £237.82 a week for single pensioners or £346.60 for couples. It is a tax-free payment for those who:
- have reached Pension Credit qualifying age, which is State Pension age, and
- live in Great Britain
- We are also keen to use this opportunity to raise awareness about State Pension age, which has increased in incremental stages from 66 to 67 from April 2026, as set out in the Pensions Act 2014.
Someone may still get Pension Credit if they:
- have not paid National Insurance contributions
- have some savings or a small pension
- live with their grown-up family
- own their own home
Use the Pension Credit calculator to find out how much Pension Credit someone could get – without giving any personal details.
Eligibility: https://youtu.be/5bpW0i52JqE
Some pensioners think because they’ve got savings or own their home they would not get any Pension Credit. Reaching these people is not always easy, but they may be more open to listening to people they trust. This might include:
- health visitors
- home help
- day care centre staff
- welfare advisers
- their General Practitioner (GP) and staff at the surgery
- the local pharmacist who prepares their prescriptions
- people at the Post Office where they collect their pension
- local councils
- friends and family
People are more likely to be susceptible to messages at different life-cycle points. Older pensioners who may have been ineligible (or just thought they were ineligible) in the past can become ‘suddenly eligible’ following important life changes. For example:
- depletion of savings
- death of a partner
- leaving employment
- increasing ill-health
- becoming a carer
- developing a disability
- taking responsibility for a child
The Pension Credit calculator can be useful in finding out how much Pension Credit someone may be entitled to – without giving any personal details.
For more information, visit: Pension Credit toolkit: advice and guidance for stakeholders – GOV.UK