How to claim Pension Credit

Pension Credit is a weekly benefit to boost your income. You can apply online, by phone or by completing a form.

If you claim Pension Credit, you can usually get extra help with the cost of living - like Winter Fuel Payments, a Budgeting Loan or a Council Tax Reduction.

If you’ve been told to claim Pension Credit by a certain date

The Department for Work and Pensions are stopping some people’s tax credits and telling them to claim Pension Credit instead.

If you get a letter telling you to claim Pension Credit by a certain deadline, this is a ‘tax credit closure notice’ (TCCN). You should claim Pension Credit by the deadline in the notice. Your tax credits will stop after the deadline.

You might miss out on some money if you apply after the deadline.

Check what information you'll need before you claim

Before applying you'll need to gather the personal information the Pension Service need.

When you call them you’ll need to answer questions about your income and savings. Make sure you have:

• your National Insurance number - you can find your National Insurance number or apply for one on GOV.UK

• your bank, building society or Post Office card account details

• details of how much money you have coming in each week, such as from a pension

• details of any savings and investments you have

• your housing costs, such as rent or mortgage repayments

• information about any benefit payments you receive

If you live with a partner you’ll need to give the Pension Service the same information about them.

You’ll also need to provide information of anyone else living with you such as details about any benefits they’re receiving. You won’t need to give details about their income.

Claiming your Pension Credit

You can apply for Pension Credit online on GOV.UK. 

You can only apply online if:

• you’ve already claimed your State Pension

• you're not living with someone under 16 or between 16 and 19 in full-time education

Make sure you have the information you need before starting your online application. You’ll have to complete your application in one sitting - you won’t be able to save and come back to it later.

If you can’t apply online, you can claim by calling the Pension Service and telling them you want to claim Pension Credit.

Ask for your Pension Credit to be backdated when you apply.

Pension Credit can be backdated for up to 3 months before you apply if you were eligible during that time. This means you'll get up to 3 months of Pension Credit included in your first payment.

If the Pension Service have all the information they need they can sometimes make a decision on your claim and put payments in place straight away. If they need more information they’ll send you a form to fill in.

If you need to give the Pension Service more information

Sometimes the Pension Service will need more information to make a decision about your claim. For example, they might ask for proof of identity or for more details about your income.

You’ll need to send what they’ve asked for within a month of being asked for it. If you need more time, you’ll need to contact the Pension Service and explain why.

It can sometimes be difficult to gather the extra information - contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you need help.

If you find it difficult to call

A friend or relative can call for you. They can go through your application on the phone or ask the Pension Service to arrange a home visit if you need it.

If they’re going through your application on the phone you must be with them when they call to make sure they answer things correctly.

You can also claim by completing a form. A friend or relative should call the Pension Credit claim line and ask them to send you the form.

Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you need help applying.

Being paid your Pension Credit

If you’re eligible for Pension Credit you’ll get a letter after you apply saying how much you’ll get and when you’ll be paid.

Pension Credit is paid every four weeks into your bank, building society or Post Office card account.  

If you don't have a bank account

You can be paid using the Payment Exception Service if you have difficulty opening or managing a suitable account. 

Extra money and help Pension Credit entitles you to

If you claim Pension Credit, you might be able to get the following for free:

• NHS prescriptions

• NHS dental treatment

• NHS sight tests

• NHS wigs and fabric supports

You might also be able to get help with:

• heating costs - you’ll get Winter Fuel Payments

• housing costs - including Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction

• court fees

• the cost of Royal Mail’s mail redirection service if you move home

• cheaper phone and internet packages, called ‘social tariffs’ - check which providers offer social tariffs on the Ofcom website

• the cost of glasses or contact lenses

• the cost of travel to get NHS treatment

If your partner is under State Pension age and you’re receiving Guarantee Credit, they’ll also get free prescriptions.

If you don't have enough money to live on, you might also be able to get help to afford essentials like bills, health costs and food.

Ask the Pension Service to explain all of the extra benefits to you when you apply.

Winter Fuel Payment

This is a payment you can get once a year to help you pay for heating during the winter. You’ll get £200 if you’re aged under 80 or £300 if you’re over 80.

If you’re eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, you’ll get a letter in October or November each year saying how much you’ll get. You’ll usually be paid automatically in November or December.

You’ll also be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment if you get another benefit, like Universal Credit. You can check if you’re already eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment on GOV.UK.

Interest payments on your mortgage

You might also get help with Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) - this is help towards interest payments on either:

•  your mortgage

•  loans you’ve taken out to pay for certain repairs and improvements to your home

Check if you can get SMI for your loan.

Heating costs

If you get Pension Credit, you’ll also get a Cold Weather Payment when it's very cold. This is a one-off payment to help pay for extra heating costs. It’s paid automatically.

You’ll get Cold Weather Payments between 1 November and 31 March. You'll get a payment each time the average temperature in your area drops below zero degrees Celsius for 7 days in a row.

Interest-free loans

Anyone on Pension Credit can apply for a Budgeting Loan which can help with things like travel costs or funeral payments. Find out more about Budgeting Loans on GOV.UK.

Free TV licence

You might be able to get a free TV licence if the person who pays for your TV licence: 

• is 75 years old or older

• gets Pension Credit

• lives with you

Apply for a TV licence on the TV Licensing website.

If you want to challenge a Pension Credit decision 

You can challenge the decision on your claim if:

• you’re told you can’t get Pension Credit

• you don’t think you’ve received enough Pension Credit

Find out how you can challenge a decision.