Blog
A deep-dive into a variety of pension topics to help you understand and learn more about your pension and the Scheme.
25/8/2026
Editorial
<h5><span style="background-color: initial; font-size: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; word-spacing: normal; caret-color: auto; white-space: inherit">What is Pension Credit?</span></h5><div><span style="background-color: initial; font-size: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; word-spacing: normal; caret-color: auto; white-space: inherit">Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit from the government to help people over State Pension age who are living on a low income. It can top up your weekly income and help with day-to-day costs.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Even if you’re still working, you may be able to claim Pension Credit. </div><div><br></div><div>If you only get a small amount of Pension Credit, you may be able to get other support to help with day-to-day living costs. This can include Council Tax, housing costs, NHS services, and heating bills. If you’re over 75, you could be entitled to a free TV license.</div><div><br></div><div>Many people who could claim Pension Credit do not realise they are entitled to it. That means there’s around 910,000 pensioner households missing out on Pension Credit, with the average award worth £4,300 a year.</div><div><br></div><p><strong>Myth-busting: Pension Credit isn't a pension</strong><br>Pension Credit is a government benefit. It isn't part of your workplace pension or State Pension. You don't have to have paid into a pension to check whether you can get Pension Credit.</p><div><br></div><h5>How does Pension Credit work?</h5><div><p>Pension Credit comes in two parts.</p></div><div><strong>Guarantee Credit</strong></div><div><br></div><div>Guarantee Credit helps people whose income is low. It tops up your weekly income to a minimum amount set by the government. This is the main part of Pension Credit and is what most people mean when they talk about claiming Pension Credit.</div><div><br></div><div>From April 2026, it can top your income up to*:</div><div>• £238.00 a week if you're single</div><div>• £363.25 a week if you're part of a couple</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Savings Credit</strong></div><div><br></div><div>Savings Credit is an extra payment for some older pensioners. It gives you up to £17.96 a week if you're single, and up to £20.10 if you're part of a couple*.</div><div><br></div><div>It’s designed for those who saved some money for when they stopped working, such as through a workplace pension, personal pension or other savings. You can only get Savings Credit if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.</div><div><br></div><h5>Do I need to understand the difference?</h5><div>No. When you apply for Pension Credit, the government will work out whether you're entitled to Guarantee Credit, Savings Credit, or both.</div><div><br></div><h5>Who is eligible for Pension Credit?</h5><ul><li>To claim Pension Credit, you must:</li><li>Have reached State Pension age</li><li>Live in England, Scotland or Wales</li><li>Have a weekly income below £238 if you're single, or £363.25 if you're in a couple. This can be slightly higher if you claim a disability-related benefit or have caring responsibilities</li><li>If you’re in a couple, you must both have reached State Pension age</li></ul><div>Your State Pension age will depend on when you were born. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Use the Gov.uk website to check your State Pension age.</a></div><div><br></div><div>To claim Savings Credit, you must:</div><ul><li>Have reached 65 if you're a man, and 63 if you're a woman, before 6 April 2016 – the State Pension ages back then (for new claims only)</li><li>Have a weekly income above £208.07 if you're single, or £329.75 if you're in a couple</li></ul><div><br></div><h5>How to apply for Pension Credit</h5><div><span style="background-color: initial; font-size: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; word-spacing: normal; caret-color: auto; white-space: inherit">If you want to find out how much Pension Credit you could get before you apply, you can use the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Pension Credit Calculator</a>.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Then visit Gov.uk to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">apply for Pension Credit</a>.</div><div><br></div><div>For your application for Pension Credit, the government will consider your income. If you have a partner, their income will also be included. </div><div><br></div><div>Income includes:</div><div>• Any workplace or personal pensions you have, including pensions you have not claimed yet</div><div>• Your State Pension</div><div>• Your earnings from employment or self-employment</div><div>• Most social security benefits</div><div><br></div><div>The government will also consider your savings and investments.</div><div><br></div><div>Using this information, the government will then calculate the amount of Pension Credit you will be able to get.</div><div><br></div><div>You can apply for Pension Credit up to four months before you reach State Pension age, and any time after. It’s worth bearing in mind that if you are eligible for Pension Credit it can only be backdated by up to three months. </div><div><br></div><div>For more guidance on how to apply, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">visit Gov.uk</a>. </div><div><br></div><div><em>*Figures are correct as of August 2026 but may change. To check the latest figures, visit <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Pension Credit: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a> or </em><a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/what-youll-get" target="_blank"><em>Pension Credit: What you'll get - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</em></a>.</div><div><br></div>
<h5><span style="background-color: initial; font-size: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; word-spacing: normal; caret-color: auto; white-space: inherit">What is Pension Credit?</span></h5><div><span style="background-color: initial; font-size: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; word-spacing: normal; caret-color: auto; white-space: inherit">Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit from the government to help people over State Pension age who are living on a low income. It can top up your weekly income and help with day-to-day costs.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Even if you’re still working, you may be able to claim Pension Credit. </div><div><br></div><div>If you only get a small amount of Pension Credit, you may be able to get other support to help with day-to-day living costs. This can include Council Tax, housing costs, NHS services, and heating bills. If you’re over 75, you could be entitled to a free TV license.</div><div><br></div><div>Many people who could claim Pension Credit do not realise they are entitled to it. That means there’s around 910,000 pensioner households missing out on Pension Credit, with the average award worth £4,300 a year.</div><div><br></div><p><strong>Myth-busting: Pension Credit isn't a pension</strong><br>Pension Credit is a government benefit. It isn't part of your workplace pension or State Pension. You don't have to have paid into a pension to check whether you can get Pension Credit.</p><div><br></div><h5>How does Pension Credit work?</h5><div><p>Pension Credit comes in two parts.</p></div><div><strong>Guarantee Credit</strong></div><div><br></div><div>Guarantee Credit helps people whose income is low. It tops up your weekly income to a minimum amount set by the government. This is the main part of Pension Credit and is what most people mean when they talk about claiming Pension Credit.</div><div><br></div><div>From April 2026, it can top your income up to*:</div><div>• £238.00 a week if you're single</div><div>• £363.25 a week if you're part of a couple</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Savings Credit</strong></div><div><br></div><div>Savings Credit is an extra payment for some older pensioners. It gives you up to £17.96 a week if you're single, and up to £20.10 if you're part of a couple*.</div><div><br></div><div>It’s designed for those who saved some money for when they stopped working, such as through a workplace pension, personal pension or other savings. You can only get Savings Credit if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.</div><div><br></div><h5>Do I need to understand the difference?</h5><div>No. When you apply for Pension Credit, the government will work out whether you're entitled to Guarantee Credit, Savings Credit, or both.</div><div><br></div><h5>Who is eligible for Pension Credit?</h5><ul><li>To claim Pension Credit, you must:</li><li>Have reached State Pension age</li><li>Live in England, Scotland or Wales</li><li>Have a weekly income below £238 if you're single, or £363.25 if you're in a couple. This can be slightly higher if you claim a disability-related benefit or have caring responsibilities</li><li>If you’re in a couple, you must both have reached State Pension age</li></ul><div>Your State Pension age will depend on when you were born. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Use the Gov.uk website to check your State Pension age.</a></div><div><br></div><div>To claim Savings Credit, you must:</div><ul><li>Have reached 65 if you're a man, and 63 if you're a woman, before 6 April 2016 – the State Pension ages back then (for new claims only)</li><li>Have a weekly income above £208.07 if you're single, or £329.75 if you're in a couple</li></ul><div><br></div><h5>How to apply for Pension Credit</h5><div><span style="background-color: initial; font-size: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; word-spacing: normal; caret-color: auto; white-space: inherit">If you want to find out how much Pension Credit you could get before you apply, you can use the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Pension Credit Calculator</a>.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Then visit Gov.uk to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">apply for Pension Credit</a>.</div><div><br></div><div>For your application for Pension Credit, the government will consider your income. If you have a partner, their income will also be included. </div><div><br></div><div>Income includes:</div><div>• Any workplace or personal pensions you have, including pensions you have not claimed yet</div><div>• Your State Pension</div><div>• Your earnings from employment or self-employment</div><div>• Most social security benefits</div><div><br></div><div>The government will also consider your savings and investments.</div><div><br></div><div>Using this information, the government will then calculate the amount of Pension Credit you will be able to get.</div><div><br></div><div>You can apply for Pension Credit up to four months before you reach State Pension age, and any time after. It’s worth bearing in mind that if you are eligible for Pension Credit it can only be backdated by up to three months. </div><div><br></div><div>For more guidance on how to apply, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">visit Gov.uk</a>. </div><div><br></div><div><em>*Figures are correct as of August 2026 but may change. To check the latest figures, visit <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Pension Credit: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a> or </em><a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/what-youll-get" target="_blank"><em>Pension Credit: What you'll get - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</em></a>.</div><div><br></div>
Blog
What is Pension Credit?
Find out how Pension Credit works and who can claim it.
What is Pension Credit?
Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit from the government to help people over State Pension age who are living on a low income. It can top up your weekly income and help with day-to-day costs.
Even if you’re still working, you may be able to claim Pension Credit.
If you only get a small amount of Pension Credit, you may be able to get other support to help with day-to-day living costs. This can include Council Tax, housing costs, NHS services, and heating bills. If you’re over 75, you could be entitled to a free TV license.
Many people who could claim Pension Credit do not realise they are entitled to it. That means there’s around 910,000 pensioner households missing out on Pension Credit, with the average award worth £4,300 a year.
Myth-busting: Pension Credit isn't a pension
Pension Credit is a government benefit. It isn't part of your workplace pension or State Pension. You don't have to have paid into a pension to check whether you can get Pension Credit.
How does Pension Credit work?
Pension Credit comes in two parts.
Guarantee Credit
Guarantee Credit helps people whose income is low. It tops up your weekly income to a minimum amount set by the government. This is the main part of Pension Credit and is what most people mean when they talk about claiming Pension Credit.
From April 2026, it can top your income up to*:
• £238.00 a week if you're single
• £363.25 a week if you're part of a couple
Savings Credit
Savings Credit is an extra payment for some older pensioners. It gives you up to £17.96 a week if you're single, and up to £20.10 if you're part of a couple*.
It’s designed for those who saved some money for when they stopped working, such as through a workplace pension, personal pension or other savings. You can only get Savings Credit if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.
Do I need to understand the difference?
No. When you apply for Pension Credit, the government will work out whether you're entitled to Guarantee Credit, Savings Credit, or both.
Who is eligible for Pension Credit?
- To claim Pension Credit, you must:
- Have reached State Pension age
- Live in England, Scotland or Wales
- Have a weekly income below £238 if you're single, or £363.25 if you're in a couple. This can be slightly higher if you claim a disability-related benefit or have caring responsibilities
- If you’re in a couple, you must both have reached State Pension age
Your State Pension age will depend on when you were born. Use the Gov.uk website to check your State Pension age.
To claim Savings Credit, you must:
- Have reached 65 if you're a man, and 63 if you're a woman, before 6 April 2016 – the State Pension ages back then (for new claims only)
- Have a weekly income above £208.07 if you're single, or £329.75 if you're in a couple
How to apply for Pension Credit
If you want to find out how much Pension Credit you could get before you apply, you can use the Pension Credit Calculator.
Then visit Gov.uk to apply for Pension Credit.
For your application for Pension Credit, the government will consider your income. If you have a partner, their income will also be included.
Income includes:
• Any workplace or personal pensions you have, including pensions you have not claimed yet
• Your State Pension
• Your earnings from employment or self-employment
• Most social security benefits
The government will also consider your savings and investments.
Using this information, the government will then calculate the amount of Pension Credit you will be able to get.
You can apply for Pension Credit up to four months before you reach State Pension age, and any time after. It’s worth bearing in mind that if you are eligible for Pension Credit it can only be backdated by up to three months.
For more guidance on how to apply, visit Gov.uk.
*Figures are correct as of August 2026 but may change. To check the latest figures, visit Pension Credit: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or Pension Credit: What you'll get - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
