Pension Credit

There are two types of Pension Credit available to those who qualify: Guarantee Pension Credit and Savings Pension Credit. Some people get one or the other and some people can get both.

Guarantee Pension Credit is a benefit which people of Pension Credit Age can claim; it tops up your income to a minimum level. Qualification for Guarantee Pension Credit will mean that you automatically qualify for maximum help with your rent through Housing Benefit.

Savings Pension Credit is only available to people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016. It provides extra money to some people who have made some additional provisions for their retirement, such as a private or company pension.

Please note: Changes from April 2016 will mean that nobody reaching State Pension age on or after 6th April 2016 will be eligible to make a new claim for Savings Pension Credit. Also from 6 April 2016, households on Pension Credit will now need to report all changes in their circumstances that will affect their benefit as they happen. Pensioners aged 75 and over who have an indefinite assessed income period in place will not be affected by the change unless the assessed income period would end under current rules. In addition from 6th April 2017 the Housing Benefit Regulations are changing to impose a limit of two child allowances in a HB assessment although exceptions will apply.