Pension Credit
What is it?
Pension Credit is paid to people aged 60 and over who have a low income. It is intended to help you cover your basic living expenses such as food and utility bills.
Pension Credit cannot be paid to help cover your rent - you must claim Housing Benefit. However, if you have a mortgage, Pension Credit can include mortgage interest payments in some circumstances.
There are two parts to the Pension Credit
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guarantee credit, which guarantees a minimum income for people over 60; and
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savings credit, which is intended to reward people who have a small additional pension or savings.
It is possible to receive either or a combination of both.
Do I qualify?
You can claim Guarantee Pension Credit if:
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Your income is low enough
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Your savings are low enough (there is no upper limit on the amount of savings you have have, but any capital over £6,000 will be assumed to give you £1.00 a week income for every £500 over £6,000).
If you are getting full Housing or Council Tax Benefit, then it is likely that you could qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit.
You can claim Savings Pension Credit if:
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You have "qualifying income" such as an occupational pension, or savings, which is not too high.
To find out whether you could qualify, you can contact the Benefits Maximisation Service for a full benefits check.
How much is it?
Guarantee Pension Credit is paid to ensure that you receive at least the minimum weekly income that the government has set for someone in your circumstances.
This is £124.05 for a single person and £189.35 for a couple.
However, you may not get this amount in pension credit. It also depends on what sources of income and savings you already have.
The maximum Savings Pension Credit you can receive is £19.71 for a single person and £26.13 for a couple. Again, how much you actually receive will depend on the size of your occupational pension or savings.
How do I apply?
To make a claim for Pension Credit you can apply by
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telephoning free phone 0800 99 1234
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on the Internet at www.thepensionservice.gov.uk or
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in writing to:-
The Pension Service
Hilden House
103 Sankey Street
Warrington
Cheshire WA1 1LA
For an easy way to find out which benefits might apply to you and your circumstances go to What can I claim?
The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide personal advice on what you may be entitled to and help you make a claim. For more information go to Benefits Maximisation Service.
What if I am not satisfied with the decision?
If you are refused benefit or think it should have been paid at a higher rate you can write asking for a revision within one month from the date on the decision. This means that a different Decision Maker will look at your claim again.
It is very important that you reply within one month, as you may not be able to challenge the decisionotherwise.
If you are still unsatisfied once the revision has taken place you can ask to have your case heard by an independent appeal tribunal. This usually has to be on a form called a GL24, which is available from any DWP office. You can also ask the DWP to post one to you. Again, you must make your appeal within one month of the date of the revision.
Our Benefits Maximisation Service can help you with revisions and appeals.
What if my circumstances change?
If your circumstances change during the year your entitlement to Pension Credit can change. You must inform the DWP of any changes which could affect your entitlement, such as changes to income, savings, or people living in your household. This list is not exhaustive.
For an easy way to find out which benefits might apply to you and your circumstances go to What can I claim?
The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide personal advice on what you may be entitled to and help you make a claim. For more information go to Benefits Maximisation Service.
Disclaimer
Although every effort is made to ensure the information on these pages is accurate and up to date, it should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law.