Pension Credit in 2026: who qualifies, how much it pays and how to claim

Pension Credit is a top-up for people who have reached State Pension age and live on a low income. It is separate from the State Pension and needs its own claim. DWP figures published on 30 October 2025 estimate that up to 910,000 families who were entitled to Pension Credit did not claim it — up to £2.5 billion a year left unclaimed.

Who can get Pension Credit in 2026?

You must live in England, Scotland or Wales, have reached State Pension age and have an income below the threshold.

State Pension age depends on your date of birth and can be checked on GOV.UK. If you have a partner — a husband, wife, civil partner or someone you live with as a couple — you must include them in the claim and your income is assessed jointly. A couple qualifies if both have reached State Pension age, or if one of you gets Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age.

People from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and their families usually also need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

How much does Pension Credit top your income up to?

Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £238 if you are single and to £363.25 for a couple.

This is the main part of the payment, known as Guarantee Credit. If your income is higher you may still qualify if you have a disability, care for someone, have savings or have housing costs. The free Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK gives an estimate without a formal claim.

What extra amounts can you get on top?

Extra amounts are added for severe disability, caring for an adult, children you are responsible for and housing costs.

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• severe disability — £86.05 a week if you get Attendance Allowance, the PIP daily living component, the middle or highest rate care component of DLA, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment or Pension Age Disability Payment;
• caring for another adult — £48.15 a week if you get Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment, or have claimed but are not paid because another higher benefit is in payment. If both of you in a couple qualify, you can both get it;
• children or young people you are responsible for — £69.98 a week each, rising to £81.07 for the first child born before 6 April 2017;
• a disabled child — a further £37.93 or £118.46 a week depending on the rate of DLA, PIP, Child Disability Payment or Adult Disability Payment;
• housing costs — ground rent on a leasehold property, some service charges, tent and site rents. The amount depends on your costs.

The child amount runs until the 31 August after their 16th birthday, or after their 19th if they stay in eligible education or training (GCSEs, A levels, BTECs, Scottish Highers, NVQs or SVQs up to level 3, averaging more than 12 hours a week).

What is Savings Credit and who gets it?

Savings Credit is the second part of Pension Credit, for people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and saved towards retirement.

It is worth up to £17.96 a week if you are single and up to £20.10 a week for a couple. Importantly, you can get some Savings Credit even if you do not qualify for Guarantee Credit.

How are income and savings counted?

Income includes your State Pension, other pensions, earnings from employment and self-employment and most social security benefits; savings of £10,000 or less are ignored entirely.

Above £10,000, every £500 counts as £1 a week of income — so £11,000 in savings counts as £2 a week. Several benefits are not counted at all, including Attendance Allowance, PIP, DLA, Adult Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment, Child Benefit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, the Christmas Bonus and social fund payments such as the Winter Fuel Payment.

One trap: if you are entitled to a personal or workplace pension but have not claimed it, the amount you would get still counts as income. The same applies to a deferred State Pension. And while you are getting Pension Credit you cannot build up extra amounts for deferring your State Pension.

What does Pension Credit unlock besides the money?

Pension Credit is a gateway to a long list of other help, which is often worth more than the top-up itself.

• Cold Weather Payments — £25 for each 7-day period of zero degrees or below between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027, paid automatically (Scotland has the Winter Heating Payment instead);
• the Warm Home Discount off your electricity bill;
• Housing Benefit if you rent, and Support for Mortgage Interest if you own;
• Council Tax Reduction;
• a free TV licence if you are 75 or over;
• help with NHS costs — prescriptions, dental treatment, glasses and hospital travel — if you get Guarantee Credit;
• a discount on the Royal Mail redirection service when you move.

How do you claim Pension Credit?

You can claim online, by phone on 0800 99 1234 or by post, and a claim can be backdated by a maximum of 3 months.

The online service is available if you have already claimed your State Pension. You can start an application up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age. Claim later and your first payment can include up to three months of arrears — but no more.

Have ready: your National Insurance number, details of income, savings and investments for you and your partner, the same details as at the date you want the claim backdated to, and your bank account details. A friend or family member can call for you. For a postal claim, print the form from GOV.UK or ask for one by phone and write nothing on the envelope except Freepost DWP Pensions Service 3 — no stamp or postcode needed.

If you are turned down you can challenge the decision by asking for a mandatory reconsideration. Citizens Advice and Age UK help with the form for free.

Why do nearly 40% of eligible people miss out?

DWP statistics for the financial year ending 2024 show that only 62% of those entitled to Pension Credit actually claimed it.

Up to 910,000 families did not claim, more than the year before (up to 760,000). Up to £2.5 billion went unclaimed, averaging around £2,600 a year for each family that missed out. The estimates were published on 30 October 2025. The commonest reasons are the belief that owning a home or having savings rules you out, and not knowing that Pension Credit pulls other help along with it. Owning your home, having savings or having other income does not by itself disqualify you.

What do you have to report afterwards?

Report any change in income, savings, household make-up or housing circumstances to the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234.

Travel has its own rule: Pension Credit continues if you are away from Great Britain for 4 weeks or less, and you must tell the Pension Service before you go. That can be extended by another 4 weeks after the death of a close relative, and up to 26 weeks if you are abroad for medical treatment or approved convalescence. You cannot start a claim while outside Great Britain, and the payment stops if you move abroad permanently.

Read next

How the State Pension itself works and how many qualifying years you need — see our State Pension guide. What happens to the amount in April 2027 — the triple lock explained. On winter help — Winter Fuel Payment 2026/27. On council tax bands, discounts and arrears — our council tax explainer.