Pension Credit 2026/27: How Much You Get and Who Qualifies

Pension Credit tops a single pensioner's income up to £238 a week and a couple's to £363.25 in 2026/27. Who qualifies, the extra amounts, and why claiming even £1 unlocks Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and a free TV licence.

2026/27 tax year

Benefits & Credits
Personal
UK-wide

Pension Credit is an income top-up for people over State Pension age on a low income - and it is one of the most under-claimed benefits in the UK. Hundreds of thousands of eligible pensioners never claim, missing not just the cash top-up but a string of other help it unlocks.

In 2026/27 it tops a single person's weekly income up to £238, and a couple's to £363.25.

The two parts of Pension Credit

Guarantee Credit is the main part. It brings your weekly income up to a guaranteed minimum:

£238 a week if you are single;
£363.25 a week if you have a partner (you claim as a couple).

Savings Credit is a small extra reward for having modest retirement savings, but it is only available if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016. The maximum is £17.96 a week (single) or £20.10 a week (couple).

Extra amounts

Guarantee Credit can be higher than the standard figures if you have extra needs. Weekly additions include:

carer for another adult: +£48.15;
severe disability: +£86.05;
each dependent child or young person: £69.98 (or £81.07 for the first child born before 6 April 2017);
disabled child: +£37.93 (lower rate) or +£118.46 (higher rate).

Who qualifies

You can claim Pension Credit if you:

have reached State Pension age (currently 66); and
live in the UK on a low income.

Because Guarantee Credit tops your income up to the guarantee level, it is your income that matters, not your savings alone. Owning your home does not stop you claiming. Savings over £10,000 are treated as producing a small assumed income (£1 a week for every £500 above £10,000), which reduces the award but often does not remove it - so it is worth checking rather than assuming you earn too much.

Why it is worth claiming even £1

This is the part most people miss. A Pension Credit award - even a small one - is a passport to other help:

Housing Benefit if you rent your home;
Council Tax Reduction;
a free TV licence once you are 75 or over;
the Warm Home Discount towards heating costs;
help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs.

That is why a £1-a-week Pension Credit award can be worth hundreds or thousands of pounds a year in total. If you are near the threshold, claim anyway and let the Pension Service work it out.

How to claim

You can claim by phone through the Pension Service or online, and a claim can be backdated by up to 3 months if you qualified for that period. You will need your National Insurance number, information about income, savings and investments, and your bank details.

Pension Credit sits alongside the rest of the retirement-income system. See the UK State Pension guide for the pension it tops up, and the Carer's Allowance guide if you care for someone - a carer can unlock the extra carer amount within Pension Credit.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Pension Credit in 2026/27?

Guarantee Credit tops your weekly income up to £238 if you are single and £363.25 if you have a partner. On top of that, Savings Credit can add up to £17.96 a week (single) or £20.10 (couple) for people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, and there are extra amounts for carers, severe disability and dependent children.

Who is eligible for Pension Credit?

You must have reached State Pension age (66) and live in the UK on a low income. Pension Credit tops your income up to the guarantee level, so it is your income - not your savings alone - that matters; having some savings or a small private pension does not automatically disqualify you, though large savings reduce the award.

Why should I claim Pension Credit even if the amount is small?

Because even a £1 award is a passport to other help: Housing Benefit if you rent, Council Tax Reduction, a free TV licence once you are 75 or over, the Warm Home Discount towards heating, and help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport. Hundreds of thousands of eligible pensioners miss out by not claiming.

Can I get Pension Credit if I own my home or have savings?

Yes. Owning your home does not stop you claiming, and there is no fixed savings cut-off. Savings over £10,000 are treated as producing a small assumed income (£1 a week per £500 above £10,000), which reduces but does not necessarily wipe out the award, so it is worth checking rather than assuming you do not qualify.