Pension Credit - How do I claim Pension Credit?

In England, Scotland and Wales

Phone the Pension Credit claim line:

• Telephone 0800 99 1234
• Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 99 1234
• British Sign Language (BSL) users: Video Relay Service
• Welsh language telephone: 0800 731 0453

The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 6.00pm. 

If you have already claimed your State Pension, you can claim Pension Credit online on the GOV.UK website.

You can also apply by post, by printing out and completing a Pension Credit claim form and returning it to the Pension Service. You can also contact the helpline and they will sent one to you, with a freepost envelope.

In Northern Ireland

Phone the NI Pension Centre:

• Telephone: 0808 100 6165
• Relay UK: 18001 then 0808 100 2658
• Irish Sign Language (ISL) and British Sign Language (BSL) users: Video Relay Service

The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.00pm. 

You can also apply by post, by printing out and completing a Pension Credit claim form and returning it to the NI Pension Service. You can also contact the helpline and they will sent one to you, with a freepost envelope.

If you have already claimed your State Pension, you can claim Pension Credit online on the GOV.UK website.

When you make a claim for Pension Credit, the Pension Service will first decide whether you are entitled to any Guarantee Pension Credit, and if so how much. Then they will look at whether you can get any Savings Pension Credit.

What documents will I need to claim Pension Credit?

When you claim Pension Credit, you will be asked for:

• Your national insurance number. This can be found on payslips, tax papers and letters from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) .
• An idea of how much money you have coming in each week. For example, this could be details of any pension you get from a former employer or a personal pension plan, and how often it is paid.
• Details of any savings and investments. The Pension Service will ask for the current balance in any bank and savings accounts as well as details of any investments, such as shares, premium bonds or unit trust certificates.
• Information on housing costs, such as mortgage interest, service charges or ground rent.

If you have a partner, you will need to have the same information about them.

When will my Pension Credit claim begin?

A claim for Pension Credit can be backdated for up to three months if you would have been entitled to it earlier. It does not matter why your claim is late. Request this when claiming.

Change of circumstances

You must report changes in circumstance which might affect your entitlement to this benefit.