How to apply for Pension Credit: a step-by-step guide for 2026

Pension Credit tops up your income — and unlocks other benefits

Pension Credit is not just extra weekly income.

Claiming it also unlocks free NHS dental treatment, help with NHS glasses costs, a free TV licence if you are 75 or over, and eligibility for the Warm Home Discount.

It also protects your entitlement to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction in most local authority areas.

The DWP estimates that around 850,000 eligible households are not currently claiming Pension Credit.

That is roughly £1.7 billion in unclaimed support every year.

Who qualifies

You must have reached State Pension age — currently 66 — to claim Pension Credit.

Your weekly income must be below the qualifying thresholds.

Savings and investments are taken into account: the DWP assumes you earn £1 per week for every £500 you have in savings above £10,000.

So if you have £15,000 in savings, the DWP treats you as having £10 per week in additional income on top of your actual income.

You can still qualify with savings above £10,000 — it simply reduces the top-up amount.

Pension Credit is one of the few benefits that actively unlocks a cascade of other entitlements — it is worth claiming even if the weekly top-up seems modest.

What you will need before you apply

Have the following to hand when you make your claim.

Your National Insurance number.

Your bank account details — Pension Credit is paid directly into your account.

Details of any income you receive — including your State Pension, any private or workplace pension, and any other benefits.

Details of savings and investments — bank accounts, ISAs, premium bonds, shares.

Details of your property if you own your home.

If you are applying as part of a couple, you will need the same details for your partner.

How to apply: check, then claim

First, use the Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK — it takes five minutes and tells you whether you are likely to qualify before you start a formal application.

Then make your claim.

By phone: Call 0800 99 1234 (free from landlines and mobiles, Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm). An adviser will complete the form on your behalf.

Online: Apply via GOV.UK if you have a Government Gateway account.

By post: Request a paper form by calling the claim line.

Pension Credit can be backdated by up to three months — ask the adviser about this explicitly when you call.

After your claim is decided

The DWP will write to confirm your entitlement and weekly amount within a few weeks.

If your claim is refused, you can request a mandatory reconsideration within one month.

Once you are receiving Pension Credit, you must inform the DWP if your income, savings, or living situation changes.

Overpayments caused by unreported changes will need to be repaid.

Bottom line: If you are over 66 and your weekly income — including your State Pension — is under roughly £300 as a single person, it is worth spending ten minutes checking your eligibility. The upside is substantial; the process is straightforward.

Apply for Pension Credit — GOV.UKOfficial DWP application page — online, phone, or post →

Benefit rules and amounts change regularly. Always check the current rates on GOV.UK or contact the DWP directly.