❌ Myth 1: "I own my home, so I can't get it."

Not true. Owning your home doesn't stop you from claiming. Your home isn't counted as savings, and some housing costs, like certain mortgage interest or ground rent and service charges, can even increase what you get.

❌ Myth 2: "I have savings, so I won't qualify."

Not true. There's no upper limit on savings for Pension Credit. Savings over £10,000 count as a small amount of weekly income, roughly £1 a week for every £500 above that figure. So modest savings won't stop you, they just reduce the amount a little.

❌ Myth 3: "I get a State Pension, so I'm not eligible."

Not true. Pension Credit is a top-up, not a replacement. If your income, including your State Pension and any other pensions, is below the minimum level, Pension Credit tops it up. The minimum is £238.00 a week for a single person and £363.25 for a couple (2026/27), and it can be higher if you have a disability, care for someone or have housing costs.

❌ Myth 4: "It's only for people with no money at all."

Not true. Lots of people with a small pension, a part-time job or a bit put by qualify. Because extra amounts can be added for disability, caring or housing costs, your income might be higher than you think and you could still get it.

❌ Myth 5: "It's only for single people."

Not true. Couples can claim too, as one joint claim. Just remember that if one of you hasn't yet reached State Pension age, the rules are different, so ask for advice.

❌ Myth 6: "It will reduce my other benefits."

Mostly not true. Attendance Allowance, PIP and Disability Living Allowance don't count as income for Pension Credit, so they won't reduce it. Pension Credit can actually increase other help, such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction. If you're unsure how it fits with what you already get, a quick benefits check will help.

❌ Myth 7: "The amount's too small to bother with."

Not true. The Pension Credit payment is only part of the story. Getting it can unlock:

• Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
• The Warm Home Discount (£150 off winter electricity bills, where your supplier takes part)
• Cold Weather Payments
• A free TV licence if you're 75 or over
• Help with NHS costs, such as dental care and glasses, if you get Guarantee Credit

Together, these can add up to hundreds or even thousands of pounds a year.

❌ Myth 8: "I only need it for the Winter Fuel Payment."

Not any more. For winter 2026/27, most people born on or before 27 June 1960 in England and Wales get Winter Fuel Payment automatically, without needing Pension Credit. But please don't let that put you off. Pension Credit is still worth claiming for all the other help it opens up.

❌ Myth 9: "It's too complicated, and I don't want to be nosy-parkered."

Not true. Claiming is easier than many people expect. You can:

• Call the free claim line on 0800 99 1234
• Apply online through GOV.UK
• Use a free benefits calculator first, such as the ones on GOV.UK, Age UK or Turn2us
• Ask Age UK or Citizens Advice to help you fill in the form

❌ Myth 10: "It's charity, and I'd feel awkward claiming."

Not true. Pension Credit is a benefit you're entitled to after a lifetime of work, caring and paying into the system. Claiming it isn't taking from anyone else. It's using what's there for you.

✅ The truth in a nutshell

• You need to have reached State Pension age and live in Great Britain.
• Owning your home or having savings doesn't automatically rule you out.
• You can claim even if you get other pensions.
• Claims can be backdated by up to 3 months, but you need to ask for this when you apply.
• A benefits check takes minutes and costs nothing.

💬 Know someone who might be missing out?

Please tell them! Many people don't realise they're eligible. A friendly chat could be worth a lot to a relative, friend or neighbour. And if you've claimed Pension Credit, we'd love for you to share how it went on the forum. Your story could help someone else take that first step. 🫶

Rates are correct for 2026/27, but always double-check on GOV.UK. This applies to England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own scheme, so check Nidirect.

💷 How much is it? (weekly, from April 2026)

Pension Credit has two parts. You can get one, both or neither.

Guarantee Credit tops your weekly income up to a minimum level:

• Single person: £238.00
• Couple: £363.25

If your income is below this, Guarantee Credit makes up the difference.

Extra amounts can be added to your minimum level if you:

• Have a severe disability: £86.05 (single), or £172.10 if you both qualify as a couple
• Care for someone: £48.15
• Have certain housing costs, such as some mortgage interest or ground rent and service charges
• Have a child or young person living with you

Savings Credit is a smaller extra for people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and saved a little towards retirement. It's worth up to £17.96 (single) or £20.10 (couple) a week. People who reached State Pension age on or after that date can't claim it, though they can still get Guarantee Credit.

✅ Who can claim?

• You've reached State Pension age.
• You live in Great Britain (Northern Ireland has its own system).
• Your income is below the amount set for your situation. For a single person, that's usually around £238 a week, but it can be higher if you have extra amounts, such as for disability, caring or housing costs.

You can still claim if you:

• Own your own home
• Have some savings (more on this below)
• Get a private or workplace pension, or the State Pension
• Are disabled, a carer or still working

Couples: if one of you has reached State Pension age and the other hasn't, you generally can't claim Pension Credit and would normally claim Universal Credit instead. It can get complicated, so a benefits check is worth doing.

🔎 What counts as income?

• State Pension and other pensions
• Earnings (after tax and certain deductions)
• Some benefits, such as Carer's Allowance and Jobseeker's Allowance
• Interest and other income from savings

What doesn't count (so doesn't reduce your Pension Credit):

• Attendance Allowance, PIP and Disability Living Allowance
• Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
• Winter Fuel Payment and Warm Home Discount

🏦 What about savings?

There's no upper limit on savings for Pension Credit, which surprises lots of people. Savings over £10,000 are counted as giving you a small amount of weekly income, roughly £1 a week for every £500 above that level. So modest savings won't stop you claiming, but significant savings will gradually reduce what you get.

🎁 Why is Pension Credit so valuable?

Getting it can unlock other help, which can be worth far more than the Pension Credit itself:

• Housing Benefit (up to the maximum amount) if you rent
• Council Tax Reduction
• Warm Home Discount: a £150 discount on winter electricity bills, where your supplier takes part. It's usually paid automatically, but it's worth telling your supplier you get Pension Credit.
• Cold Weather Payment during very cold spells
• Free TV licence if you're 75 or over. You need to apply for this separately through TV Licensing.
• Help with NHS costs (if you get Guarantee Credit), such as free dental treatment, sight tests, glasses vouchers, and travel to hospital appointments in England
• Support for Mortgage Interest, and help towards funeral costs, if you qualify
• Maximum help with certain other benefits

❄️ What about Winter Fuel Payment?

The rules changed a lot in 2024 and 2025. For winter 2026/27, Winter Fuel Payment is paid automatically in England and Wales to most people born on or before 27 June 1960. You don't need Pension Credit to get it, though people with taxable income over £35,000 will have it taken back through the tax system. Claiming Pension Credit is still worthwhile because of all the other help it unlocks.

📝 How to claim

You can claim:

• Online through GOV.UK
• By phone on the Pension Credit claim line: 0800 99 1234 (free)
• By post, using a claim form

Have ready: your National Insurance number, details of your income, savings and pensions (and your partner's, if you have one), your bank details, and your housing costs if relevant.

Tips:

• Claim as soon as you think you might be eligible. Don't wait to be certain.
• Pension Credit can be backdated by up to 3 months, but you need to ask for this when you claim. It's not automatic.
• Use the free Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK, or one from Age UK or Turn2us, to get an idea of what you might receive.
• Most claims are decided in a few weeks, and you'll be told by post.

⏳ Your Assessed Income Period

Once you're awarded Pension Credit, the DWP usually sets an Assessed Income Period (AIP), which can be up to 5 years. During this time, your State Pension and private pension increases are ignored, which means you don't need to report most small changes. Do tell them if things change in your household, such as moving home, a partner moving in or out, going into a care home, or a big change in savings.

🤝 Where to get help

• Age UK: free advice line and local branches that can help you fill in the form.
• Citizens Advice: free, confidential advice, including a benefits check.
• Turn2us and Entitledto: free benefits calculators.
• The Pension Service: the government's helpline for State Pension and Pension Credit questions.
• Your local council: some have teams who help older residents claim.

💬 A final word

Many people feel awkward or proud about applying for benefits. Please don't. Pension Credit is something you're entitled to, and you've probably paid in for many years. Even if the amount seems small, it can be a gateway to hundreds or thousands of pounds of extra help a year. If you're unsure, a quick benefits check costs nothing.

If you know an older relative, friend or neighbour who might be missing out, please tell them. A kind word could make a real difference. 🫶

Rates are correct for 2026/27, but always double-check on GOV.UK. This guide applies to England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own Pension Credit scheme, so check Nidirect. In Scotland, some of the extra help works differently, such as with Winter Fuel Payment being replaced by Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

What's happening?

The State Pension age is going up from 66 to 67, and the DWP has confirmed the change began on 6 April 2026. It will be fully in place for men and women across the UK by 2028.

Does it affect me?

It depends on your date of birth:

• If you were born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961, you'll reach State Pension age at some point between 66 and 67, depending on your exact date of birth.
• If you were born on or after 6 March 1961, you'll have to wait until you turn 67 under the current timetable.
• If you were born after 5 April 1969 but before 6 April 1977, your State Pension age was already 67.

What should I do?

• Check your date with the free State Pension age calculator on GOV.UK. It takes a minute.
• The DWP will write to people affected by the change, so keep an eye out for a letter.
• Check your State Pension forecast on GOV.UK to see how much you're on course for, and look out for any gaps in your National Insurance record (we covered this under N).
• You can usually claim up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age, so don't leave it too late.

Worth knowing if your date has moved:

• Waiting longer can mean needing other support in the meantime, such as Universal Credit, ESA or Jobseeker's Allowance.
• Once you reach State Pension age, some benefits change. For example, Pension Credit takes over from Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance from PIP for new claims, and Housing Benefit becomes available for renters. It's worth a benefits check as you get close.
• If you're struggling financially while waiting, ask about a benefits check with Citizens Advice, Age UK or Turn2us.

Where to start: use the State Pension age calculator and forecast service on GOV.UK, or call the Future Pension Centre. Age UK and Citizens Advice are great for a chat if the changes feel confusing.

Rules change often, so always double-check on GOV.UK. The headline of the original story also mentions a tax warning, but I couldn't see those details, so I haven't included them. I can add a section if you paste that part in.

Has the change caught you or someone you know off guard? Come and share your story on the forum. 🫶

How much is it? (weekly rate from April 2026)

• £110.75 a week.
• If you already get an old State Pension that's less than this, it can top it up to this level.
• There's also a small extra 25p a week added to State Pensions once you turn 80. It's not much, but it's paid automatically.

Who can claim?

• You're 80 or over.
• You reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016. (People who reached it after that are on the new State Pension, where the rules are different.)
• You get no State Pension, or less than £110.75 a week.
• You meet the UK residence rules. You'll usually need to have lived in the UK for at least 10 years in any 20-year period after the age of 60, though there are some exceptions, so ask if you're unsure.

Good things to know:

• It isn't means-tested, so your savings and other income don't affect it.
• It's taxable, but most people on it won't have to pay tax.
• It counts as income for Pension Credit, so if you get Pension Credit it may not leave you better off. Please don't stop either one without getting advice, because Pension Credit can unlock extra help like Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, free TV licences for some people and the Warm Home Discount.
• You usually have to claim it, so it's not always automatic. If you or a relative are close to 80 and haven't got a full State Pension, it's worth asking.
• Women who have always been at home raising a family, or people who've spent a lot of time abroad, are among those who might qualify.
• It's worth a full benefits check if you're 80 or over, as you may also be entitled to Attendance Allowance (we covered this under A), Pension Credit and help with heating costs.

Where to start: contact the Pension Service through GOV.UK or by phone. Age UK and Citizens Advice can help with the form or a benefits check, and many local branches visit people at home.

Rates are correct for 2026/27, but always double-check on GOV.UK. This applies across Great Britain. Northern Ireland has its own version, so check Nidirect.

Do you know someone aged 80 or over who could be missing out? Pass it on, and come and tell us how it goes on the forum. 🫶