The Department for Work and Pensions updated income levels for the 2023/24 financial year in April to show that if you are over 65 and reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, you may still qualify for Pension Credit if your weekly income is less than £240.90 if you are single or £351.45 if you are part of a couple.
Older people - or friends and family - can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK. Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 - lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Below is everything you need to know about the benefit to make a claim for yourself, a family member or friend, including how to use the Pension Credit calculator and other entitlement an award of just a few pence may provide access to. This means they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age.You’ll need the same details for your partner if you have one.Once you have answered these questions, a summary screen shows your responses, allowing you to go back and change any answers before submitting.
This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.If you’re backdating your claim, you’ll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start.