Pension Credit UK: Eligibility, Guarantee Credit, Savings Credit and Linked Benefits
Pension Credit Eligibility Calculator & Guide UK
Complete guide to Pension Credit UK. Who qualifies, how much you get, what it unlocks, and how to check if you're eligible for this often-unclaimed benefit.
Pension Credit tops up retirement income — but over 850,000 eligible people don’t claim. Here’s how to check if you qualify.
For the wider PocketWise overview of Pension Credit rates, savings rules, claiming and linked support, use the main Pension Credit hub.
What Is Pension Credit?
Two Parts
| Part |
What It Does |
| Guarantee Credit |
Tops income up to minimum |
| Savings Credit |
Rewards for modest income above State Pension |
*Savings Credit closed to new claimants reaching pension age after 6 April 2016
Why It Matters
| Benefit |
Value |
| Income top-up |
£218.15+ weekly |
| Gateway benefit |
Unlocks other help |
| Unclaimed |
£1.7 billion unclaimed |
Are You Eligible?
Basic Eligibility
| Requirement |
Detail |
| Age |
State Pension age or over |
| Residence |
Living in UK |
| Income |
Below threshold |
| Savings |
Mostly ignored below £10,000 |
Income Thresholds (2025/26)
| Situation |
Weekly Guarantee |
| Single |
£218.15 |
| Couple |
£332.95 |
Additional Amounts
| If You Have |
Extra Amount |
| Severe disability |
£81.50/week |
| Carer |
£45.60/week |
| Children |
Variable |
| Housing costs |
May be included |
Quick Eligibility Check
Step 1: Calculate Your Income
| Include |
Weekly Amount |
| State Pension |
£ |
| Other pensions |
£ |
| Other benefits |
£ |
| Earnings |
£ |
| Total |
£ |
Step 2: Add Savings Tariff
| If Savings Over £10,000 |
Add |
| £10,001-10,500 |
£1 |
| £10,501-11,000 |
£2 |
| Each £500 above |
£1 more |
Step 3: Compare to Threshold
| Your Income |
vs Threshold |
| Total income |
£218.15 (single) |
| If under |
You probably qualify |
| If just over |
Check additional amounts |
Detailed Examples
Example 1: Single Person, Basic Pension Only
| Income |
Weekly |
| State Pension |
£175 |
| Savings (£8,000) |
£0 (under £10k) |
| Total income |
£175 |
| Threshold |
£218.15 |
| Pension Credit |
£43.15/week |
Example 2: Couple, Some Private Pension
| Income |
Weekly |
| His State Pension |
£175 |
| Her State Pension |
£100 |
| Private pension |
£40 |
| Total |
£315 |
| Threshold (couple) |
£332.95 |
| Pension Credit |
£17.95/week |
Example 3: With Savings
| Income |
Weekly |
| State Pension |
£175 |
| Savings £15,000 |
£10 assumed |
| Total |
£185 |
| Threshold |
£218.15 |
| Pension Credit |
£33.15/week |
What Counts as Income?
Income That Counts
| Type |
Included |
| State Pension |
Yes |
| Private/workplace pensions |
Yes |
| Earnings |
Yes |
| Some other benefits |
Yes |
| Pension annuity |
Yes |
Income NOT Counted
| Type |
Excluded |
| Attendance Allowance |
No |
| PIP/DLA |
No |
| Housing Benefit |
No |
| Council Tax Support |
No |
| War Pensions |
Partially excluded |
Savings Rules
The £10,000 Threshold
| Savings |
Treatment |
| £0-10,000 |
Ignored |
| £10,001-10,500 |
£1/week assumed income |
| £10,501-11,000 |
£2/week |
| Each £500 above |
Additional £1/week |
No Upper Limit
| Unlike Other Benefits |
Pension Credit |
| UC, HB |
Have upper limits |
| Pension Credit |
No upper limit |
| High savings |
Just more tariff income |
What Counts as Savings
| Counts |
Doesn’t Count |
| Bank accounts |
Home you live in |
| ISAs |
Personal possessions |
| Premium Bonds |
Some business assets |
| Shares |
|
What Pension Credit Unlocks
Free TV Licence
| Benefit |
Detail |
| Eligibility |
Pension Credit + 75+ |
| Value |
£169.50/year |
| Automatic? |
Must apply |
Council Tax Support
| Benefit |
Detail |
| Often |
Full exemption |
| Value |
£1,500-2,500/year |
| Apply |
Through council |
NHS Help
| Covers |
Value |
| Free dental |
Worth £100s |
| Free sight tests |
£25+ |
| Help with glasses |
Varies |
| Free prescriptions |
If below SPA |
Cold Weather Payments
| Payment |
£25 per cold week |
| Automatic |
If below 0°C for 7+ days |
Warm Home Discount
| Rebate |
£150/year |
| On electricity |
Automatic for PC recipients |
Funeral Expenses Payment
| If Needed |
Help with costs |
| Eligibility |
Getting Pension Credit |
| Covers |
Some funeral expenses |
Housing Costs
Included in Pension Credit
| Cost |
Treatment |
| Mortgage interest |
Can be included |
| Service charges |
Some included |
| Ground rent |
Can be included |
Housing Benefit Separately
| If Renting |
|
| Apply for |
Housing Benefit |
| Passport |
From Pension Credit |
| Full help |
Usually |
How to Claim
Online
| Method |
Detail |
| Website |
gov.uk/pension-credit |
| Account |
Government Gateway |
| Time |
~20 minutes |
Phone
| Method |
Detail |
| Helpline |
0800 99 1234 |
| Hours |
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm |
| Textphone |
0800 169 0133 |
Backdating
| Can Backdate |
Up to 3 months |
| If eligible then |
Claim for that period |
| Automatic |
If you request |
Mixed-Age Couples
Complex Rules
| Situation |
Position |
| Both over State Pension age |
Pension Credit |
| One under SPA |
Usually Universal Credit |
| Pre-May 2019 rules |
Some exceptions |
Why People Don’t Claim
Common Reasons
| Reason |
Reality |
| “I have savings” |
May still qualify |
| “Only small amount” |
Unlocks others |
| “Too much hassle” |
Claim process simple |
| “Don’t need charity” |
Paid for through taxes |
The Cost of Not Claiming
| Missing Out On |
Annual Value |
| Pension Credit |
£1,000-2,000+ |
| Council Tax Support |
£1,500-2,500 |
| Warm Home Discount |
£150 |
| NHS help |
Variable |
| Total potential |
£3,000-5,000+ |
Help with Applications
Free Support
| Organisation |
Service |
| Age UK |
Phone help |
| Citizens Advice |
Full support |
| Independent Age |
Helpline |
| Local council |
Benefits advice |
What You’ll Need
| Information |
Have Ready |
| NI number |
Yours and partner |
| Bank details |
For payment |
| Income details |
Pensions, other |
| Savings figures |
Approximate |
| Housing costs |
Rent/mortgage |
Summary
Do You Qualify?
| Check |
Answer |
| Over State Pension age? |
☐ |
| Weekly income under £218.15 (single) / £332.95 (couple)? |
☐ |
| Including savings tariff if over £10k? |
☐ |
| If yes to above |
Likely eligible |
Worth Claiming Even If
| Situation |
Still Claim |
| Small amount due |
Unlocks other help |
| Just over threshold |
Additional amounts may help |
| Have some savings |
Still may qualify |
Take Action
| Step |
Action |
| 1 |
Check eligibility above |
| 2 |
Use official calculator gov.uk |
| 3 |
Gather information |
| 4 |
Apply online or phone |
| 5 |
Claim other linked benefits |
Key Numbers
| Item |
Amount |
| Single threshold |
£218.15/week |
| Couple threshold |
£332.95/week |
| Savings disregard |
£10,000 |
| Claim line |
0800 99 1234 |
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