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Pension Credit is money for some people aged 60 and over. It has two parts – guarantee credit and savings credit. You may be able to claim one part or both parts, depending on your circumstances.
Guarantee credit tops up your weekly income to a guaranteed level. The income you already have must be below a certain amount.
This used to be 60 for a woman and 65 for a man but this is changing for a lot of people. You can work out the exact date of your state pension age by using the state pension age calculator (link opens in a new window) on the Government's Directgov website.
It does not matter what age your partner is as long as you, the person applying, are the right age.
You can get savings credit if you or your partner is 65 or over. You must also have a certain amount of income coming in from pensions, savings, earnings and investments. If you are single, the minimum amount is £98.40 a week. If you have a partner, the minimum amount is £157.25 a week.
You can claim Pension Credit whether or not you are working. You do not have to have paid national insurance contributions.
Pension Credit depends on how much income and savings you have. For example, you can get the guarantee part if you are single and your weekly income is below £130 a week. If you have a partner, your joint weekly income must be below £202.40.
Pension Credit is money that you can spend as you want. You will usually be paid directly into your bank or building society account. You can be paid at a post office in some cases.
The guarantee part of Pension Credit is an important benefit for people state pension age as it gives them the right to other benefits such as:
It is complicated to work out how much you can get. Your weekly income (which includes your partner’s income if you live with your partner) is compared to a fixed weekly amount set by the Government. This amount will vary for each person because it is made up of different elements which depend on your circumstances. You will qualify for guarantee credit only if your income is less than this fixed weekly amount.
The amount of guarantee credit that you will get is the difference between the fixed weekly amount and your actual income. If your income is more than the fixed weekly amount, you will not get any guarantee credit, but you may still get some savings credit.
It is complicated to work out how much you can get .The amount of savings credit you can get depends on whether you have more or less weekly income than a certain limit. This limit depends on whether you are a single person or a member of a couple. If your income is less than or equal to this limit, you will not get any savings credit. If your income is more than this threshold, you may get some savings credit.
Claim Pension Credit on form PC1. You can get this in person at a Pension Service surgery, benefit office or at your local council's Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit office.
Or you can ask for a form on the phone. In England, Wales and Scotland, call the Pension Credit helpline on: 0800 99 1234. In Northern Ireland, the Pension Service application line is: 0808 100 6165. If you phone them, the Pension Service staff could fill in an application form for you over the telephone and send it to you to check and sign.
The Pension Credit claim form (link opens in a new window PDF file size 497kb) is available online on the Government's Directgov website. Get the Pension Credit claim form in Northern Ireland (PDF file size 264kb) (link opens in a new window) at the website of the Department for Social Development.
When you apply for Pension Credit, the Pension Service will first decide whether you have the right to any guarantee credit, and if so how much. Then they will look at whether you can get any savings credit.
You may be able to backdate your claim for up to three months. You do not have to give a reason for your late claim.
You must give your national insurance number and evidence of who you are, for example, a driving licence or birth certificate. You must also give evidence of your income, for example, pension pay slips or bank statements.
The Turn2us Benefit Checker can help you find out if you qualify for Pension Credit.
There are many special organisations for older people. They can give you general information, as well as information about Pension Credit. For example, you could phone the Age UK (link opens in a new window) helpline on 0800 169 6565.
For more information about Pension Credit, you can call the Pension Credit helpline on: 0800 99 1234. In Northern Ireland, call: 0808 100 6165.
Contact your local council to find out details of your local Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit office. You can find the contact details of your local council (link opens in a new window) on the Directgov website.
The Citizens Advice (link opens in a new window) website can give you more information about Pension Credit.
Directgov, the government website, (link opens in a new window) has more information about Pension Credit.
Find an adviser tool.
This information has been produced by Citizens Advice.
Last updated: 12 May 2010
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