Over 80 Pension: Extra Weekly Payment for Eligible Pensioners
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has highlighted that people over 80 who receive no Basic State Pension or have a weekly income below £110.75 may be entitled to additional financial support through the ‘Over 80 Pension’. This payment provides £110.75 each week to eligible individuals, either as a full payment if they receive no Basic State Pension, or as a top-up to reach that amount.
According to the latest DWP statistics, over 13 million older people across the UK receive the State Pension, including more than one million in Scotland. The State Pension age is currently rising from 66 to 67 for both men and women. To qualify for the Over 80 Pension, claimants must be 80 or over, not receiving Basic State Pension or receiving less than £110.75 weekly, have been resident in the UK for at least 10 years out of the 20 years ending the day before their 80th birthday (or any day after), and have been ordinarily resident in the UK, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar on their 80th birthday or the date of claim. Notably, eligibility does not depend on National Insurance contributions.
Pension Credit: Over 700,000 Eligible Pensioners Not Claiming
In addition to the Over 80 Pension, Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit that could provide an average of £4,300 in extra financial support during the 2026/27 financial year. Currently, nearly 1.4 million older people in Great Britain, including over 125,000 in Scotland, receive this benefit. However, the DWP estimates that more than 700,000 eligible pensioners are not claiming it.
Many older people mistakenly believe that having savings or owning their home disqualifies them from Pension Credit. However, even a small award of £1 per week can unlock other support, such as help with housing costs, winter heating assistance, and Council Tax discounts. Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum of £238.00 for single pensioners and £363.25 for couples.
How to Claim the Over 80 Pension
Claim forms for the Over 80 Pension are available from local Jobcentre Plus offices or the Pension Service. The earliest a claim can be made is three months before the claimant’s 80th birthday. To request a form by post, call the Pension Service on 0800 731 7898. Full details are available on GOV.UK.
Checking Eligibility for Pension Credit
The quickest way to check eligibility for Pension Credit is to use the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK. Alternatively, pensioners can call the Pension Credit helpline at 0800 99 1234 (lines open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). Expert help is also available from organisations such as Independent Age, Income Max, Citizens Advice, and Age UK.
To use the calculator, you will need details of earnings, benefits, pensions, savings, and investments. The calculator asks a series of multiple-choice questions about date of birth, residential status, benefits received, pensions, employment earnings, and savings. After submitting, it displays an estimate of the weekly benefit you could receive.
Additional Benefits for Pension Credit Claimants
Qualifying for Pension Credit can also provide access to other help, including Housing Benefit, Support for Mortgage Interest, Council Tax discounts, a free TV licence for those aged 75 or over, help with NHS costs, heating cost assistance through the Warm Home Discount Scheme, and a discount on Royal Mail redirection service when moving house.
It is important to note that mixed-age couples (one partner of State Pension age and the other under it) cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until both reach State Pension age, following a law change in May 2019.
How to Make a Claim
You can apply for Pension Credit up to four months before reaching State Pension age. Claims can be backdated for up to three months, meaning you could receive up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that period. To apply online, you need your National Insurance number, information about your income, savings, and investments, and bank account details. The online service is available if you have already claimed your State Pension and there are no children or young people included in the claim.
