The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed plans to launch a new campaign next month encouraging people of State Pension age to check whether they could boost their income by an average of £4,300 a year.
Nearly 1.4 million older people across Great Britain, including more than 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving Pension Credit. However, DWP estimates around 760,000 pensioners could be entitled to the State Pension top-up but are not claiming it.
Autumn campaign details
The means-tested benefit provides an average of £4,300 in additional support during the 2026/27 financial year and can also unlock help with housing costs, heating bills and Council Tax.
Pensions Minister Torsten Bell has now confirmed a new autumn Pension Credit campaign will launch in October, urging pensioners and their families to check eligibility and make a claim.
The details emerged in response to a written parliamentary question from Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom and Ewell Helen Maguire, who asked what assessment DWP had made of the potential merits of a national take-up strategy for later-life entitlements, including Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction.
Responding to Ms Maguire, Mr Bell said: “The Government is committed to supporting pensioners and ensuring they receive the financial support to which they are entitled.
“Maximising Pension Credit take-up is a key priority, as Pension Credit provides a vital financial safety net for pensioners on low incomes and can also act as a gateway to a range of additional support.”
Building on previous efforts
The Pensions Minister said the UK Government has been running what it describes as the “biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign across Great Britain”.
Mr Bell confirmed: “We are building on that with our new autumn campaign which will launch in October 2026, urging pensioners and their families to check their eligibility and make a claim.”
He said the UK Government is also taking further action to increase Pension Credit take-up through targeted communications, partnership working and close engagement with councils, both directly and through Local Authority Welfare Direct bulletins.
Data and targeted approaches are also being used to identify households that could potentially qualify and encourage them to make a claim.
Mr Bell added: “These activities help pensioners access the wider support available to them, including Housing Benefit and, where applicable, Council Tax Reduction.”
Who could qualify?
Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a minimum of:
- £238.00 for a single pensioner
- £363.25 for couples
However, having income above these amounts does not necessarily mean someone cannot qualify.
People may still be eligible for Pension Credit if they have a disability, care for someone, have savings or certain housing costs.
Some older people may wrongly assume that having savings or owning their home automatically prevents them from qualifying for the means-tested benefit.
Savings and investments of £10,000 or less will not affect Pension Credit.
For savings above £10,000, every £500 - or part of £500 - is treated as providing £1 of weekly income when entitlement is calculated.
What counts as income?
When someone applies for Pension Credit, their income is calculated. If they have a partner, their income is calculated together.
Income includes:
- State Pension
- other pensions
- earnings from employment and self-employment
- most social security benefits, including Carer's Allowance
Not all benefits are treated as income.
Benefits which are not counted include:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- DWP Christmas Bonus
- Child Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Personal Independence Payment
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
Check your eligibility
Older people can quickly check whether they may qualify and get an estimate of how much they could receive by using the free Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK.
Friends and family members can also use the calculator to help an older person check their potential entitlement - something particularly relevant to the new October campaign, which is specifically encouraging families as well as pensioners themselves to check eligibility.
To use the calculator, you will need details of:
- earnings, benefits and pensions
- savings and investments
The same information will be needed for a partner if you have one.
The calculator asks a series of questions before providing an estimate of how much Pension Credit someone could receive each week.
People can then follow the link to the application service to find out exactly what they may be entitled to.
Other help if you get Pension Credit
Even a small Pension Credit award can be important because entitlement can unlock access to other financial support.
Depending on individual circumstances, this can include:
- Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
- Support for Mortgage Interest if you own your home
- help with Council Tax
- a free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over
- help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments
- help with heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme
- a discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving home
Mr Bell also highlighted housing support in his parliamentary response.
He said Housing Benefit continues to provide help for pensioners who rent, while pensioner homeowners receiving income-related benefits, including Pension Credit, may be eligible for Support for Mortgage Interest to help with interest on qualifying secured loans.
How to make a claim
People can start their Pension Credit application up to four months before reaching State Pension age.
A claim can be made at any time after reaching State Pension age, but it can only be backdated for three months.
This means someone could receive up to three months of Pension Credit in their first payment if they were eligible during that period.
To make a claim, you will need:
- your National Insurance number
- information about your income, savings and investments
- your bank account details if applying by phone or post
Anyone backdating their claim will also need details of their income, savings and investments on the date they want the claim to start.
People can apply online at GOV.UK if they have already claimed their State Pension and there are no children or young people included in their claim.
Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
The Pension Credit calculator and full details about eligibility and making a claim can be found on GOV.UK.
