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Pension Credit

Pension Credit

Understanding your State Pension

Pension Credit can top up your income to a minimum level if you've reached State Pension age. Lots of people who qualify for it aren’t claiming it, so it’s worth checking if you can get it.
To qualify for Pension Credit, you must have reached State Pension age. Use the Gov.uk online tool to check when you'll reach State Pension age.
There are two types of Pension Credit:
To qualify for Guarantee Credit, your weekly income will need to be less than the minimum amount the government says you need to live on. For 2025/26, this is £227.10 for a single person and £346.60 for a couple. This amount could be higher if you're disabled, a carer, are responsible for children or have certain housing costs.
You can only get Savings Credit if:
Read our factsheet Pension Credit for more information.
Use our free benefits calculator to work out if you might be able to get Pension Credit. You can also call our free Helpline on 0800 319 6789 to speak to an adviser.
Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to:
You might be able to get more than this if you're disabled, a carer, are responsible for children or you have certain housing costs. See our factsheet Pension Credit for more information.
Savings Credit can give you up to:
The exact amount you’ll get depends on your income.
Savings, investments or other capital of more than £10,000 will also affect how much you get. For every £500 (or part of £500) you have over £10,000, it’s assumed you have an extra £1 of weekly income.
Here's an example:
Mr Smith is 76 years old. He is not a carer and he has no health conditions or personal care needs. He is single, rents his home and has a State Pension of £140.18 a week and an occupational pension of £25 a week. He also has savings of £11,000. The first £10,000 are ignored, and an extra £1 of income is counted for every £500 above this. This means he has an assumed income from savings of £2 a week. So, his income is calculated as:
This gives him Guarantee Credit of £59.92 a week.
If you get Pension Credit, you may qualify for other benefits, including:
If you’re 75 or over, you can also apply for a free TV licence.
To apply for Pension Credit, call the claim line on 0800 99 1234. You can also claim online if you've already applied for your State Pension. Or you can download an application form to print out. You won't need a stamp when you return your form.
You can apply for Pension Credit up to four months before you reach State Pension age, and any time after. Claims for Pension Credit can be backdated by up to three months if you qualified for it for the whole of that period.
When you claim, you’ll need the following information:
If you have a partner, you'll need the same details for them too.
If you need support to fill in the form, one of our advisers can help you complete it over the phone. Call our Helpline on 0800 319 6789. Or you could get help from your local Citizens Advice. Search the Citizens Advice website for England and Wales or visit Citizens Advice Scotland to find your nearest branch.
You cannot usually make a new claim for Pension Credit if you live with a partner who is under State Pension age unless:
If you cannot claim Pension Credit, you may be able to claim Universal Credit instead, until you both reach State Pension age. Contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 for more information.
Read our factsheet Pension Credit for more information or call our free Helpline on 0800 319 6789 to speak to an adviser.