Pension Credit is a benefit for people over the State Pension age that provides extra money every week to those who require it.
It is administered through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and how much you receive from them is dependent on your living situation.
Pensioners who are single can have their income topped up to £177.10 per week via the core element — also called Guarantee Credit — of the benefit, whilst people who have a partner will have their weekly income topped up to £270.30.
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Those who have additional responsibilities and costs may be eligible to receive extra funds.
As reported by the Daily Express, here is a rundown of the additional funds you may receive if you qualify
Severe disability
People with a severe disability could be eligible to receive an extra £67.30 a week.
Those who claim any of the following benefits could receive the extra money:
- Attendance Allowance
- The middle or highest rate from the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- The daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
Caring responsibilities
Those who care for another adult might be able to receive an extra £37.70 of Pension Credit each week.
The additional amount is available to those who:
- Get Carer’s Allowance
- Have claimed Carer’s Allowance but are not actually being paid anything as they already receive another benefit which pays a higher amount
- Both partners may get the extra amount if they have both claimed or are getting Carer’s Allowance.
Caring for a child or young person
Pensioners may receive an extra £54.60 of Pension Credit per week for each child or young person they are responsible for.
This increases to £65.10 a week for the first child in someone’s care if they were born before April 6, 2017.
The child or young person must normally live with the Pension Credit recipient and be under the age of 20.
Housing costs
People with housing costs could also get an extra Pension Credit boost.
Exactly how much depends on the type and amount of housing costs someone has.
Pensioners may get help with the following housing costs:
- Ground rent for leasehold properties
- Some service charges
- Charges for tents and site rents
Savings Credit
Savings Credit provides a financial boost for people who have slightly more income, meaning if someone cannot get Guarantee Credit, they may still get some support through Savings Credit.
This could pay out up to £14.04 Savings Credit a week for single pensioners and £15.71 for those with a partner.
To get Savings Credit, someone must have reached state pension age before April 6, 2016.
How to apply
Applications for Pension Credit can be made online via the Government website, or on the phone by calling the claim line on 0800 99 1234.
People can also apply by post. They should print out, fill in and send off a Pension Credit claim form or call the claim line to request a form.
