Pension Credit

To qualify for Pension Credit you must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached your state pension age. 

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you and your family usually also need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get Pension Credit. The deadline to apply to the scheme was 30 June 2021 for most people, but you might still be able to apply. 

Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

If you have a partner

You will need to include them on any application. 

If you have both reached State Pension age then you can still apply.

If one of you is under pension age but you still receive Housing Benefits and not Universal Credit then you can still apply.

Details on who is classed as a partner can be found here.

When you apply for Pension Credit a calculation of your income is done. If you have a partner then both your incomes are included in the calculation.

As a basic rule you will qualify for Pension Credit if your income is below:

• £218.15 for a single person
• £332.95 for a couple (joint income)

If you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or housings costs you still may qualify if your income is higher than these amounts.

For Pension Credit purposes income includes:

• State Pension
• Any other pensions you receive
• Earnings from employment or self-employment
• Most other social security benefits

Some benefits are not classed as income for Pension Credit. These include:

• Adult Disability Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Christmas Bonus
• Child Benefit
• Disability Living Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Social fund payments like Winter Fuel Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Reduction

If you have deferred your pension please see advice here.

If you have savings and investments below £10,000 then these savings and investments will not affect Pension Credit.

If you have more than £10,000 then every £500 over the £10,000 counts as £1 a week income. For example, someone with £12,000 will have £4 added to their weekly income total.

This all depends on your circumstances and your income. The average weekly amount someone gets from Pension Credit is an additional £75 per week but the amount you may qualify for could be higher or lower.

You can see how much Pension Credit you could qualify for by completing an online benefits calculator.

Pension Credit calculator - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Alternatively our Tenancy Support Team are able to help to see whether you would be eligible and also help you to apply if you need.

You can contact our Tenancy Support Team on 01302 862050 where someone will take your details and arrange for a callback, or if you prefer you can email them at HOTS@stlegerhomes.co.uk

If you do not qualify for the guaranteed Pension Credit and both you and your partner (if you have one) turned Pension Age before the 6th April 2016, then you may qualify for Pension Credit Savings.

You can check using the online benefits calculator or contact our Tenancy Support Team on 01302 862050 who will arrange for someone to call you back for advice.