Pension Credit
Pension Credit provides extra funds to help you with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. It is an additional income for which you may be eligible even if you have a pension, savings, or own a home. It’s split into two parts:
Guarantee Pension Credit is a supplement to your weekly income to the guaranteed minimum:
- Your weekly income is topped up to £177.10 per week in case you are single
- Your joint weekly income is topped up to £270.30 per week if you have a partner.
Savings Pension Credit can be claimed by all persons who are 65 and over and reached state pension age before 6th April 2016, an additional incentive is available if you have provided a pension through savings, work or a private pension. You could get up to:
- £14.04 extra per week if you are single
- £15.71 if you have a partner.
Even if you do not get the Guarantee Pension Credit, You might still get Savings Pension Credit.
If you are interested, you can apply online at https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim or you can call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234 (an adviser will fill in the application for you over the phone). You need the following information:
- National Insurance number
- details about any income, savings and investments
- information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want to backdate your application to (usually 3 months ago or the date you reached State Pension age)
- your bank account details.
Eligibility for pension credit:
- You must be a resident of the UK – England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
- You must be over the state pension age
For more detailed information, please check https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit
