Nearly three in ten State Pension claimants in England and Wales received at least one additional benefit in March 2026, according to the latest Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) statistics. The figures exclude devolved disability benefits in Scotland, but pensioners there can also qualify for extra support depending on their circumstances.
Some payments are available regardless of savings or income, while others target people on lower incomes. Receiving the State Pension does not automatically prevent someone from claiming additional benefits such as Pension Credit, which is worth around £4,500 a year on average.
Pension Credit
Pension Credit provides extra money to people over State Pension age on a low income, even if they own their home or have savings. The benefit currently tops up weekly income to £238 for single pensioners or £363.25 for couples. People with disabilities, caring responsibilities or certain housing costs could qualify for more.
Those with more than £10,000 in savings may still qualify, but savings above that amount are taken into account when calculating entitlement. Pension Credit can also provide access to help with housing costs, Council Tax Reduction and a free TV licence for eligible people aged 75 or over. Eligibility can be checked using the Pension Credit calculator online at GOV.UK.
Disability and Attendance Payments
Pension Age Disability Payment is available to people in Scotland who have reached State Pension age and need help because of a disability or long-term health condition. Administered by Social Security Scotland, it replaces Attendance Allowance for new applicants in Scotland. It pays £76.70 or £114.60 a week, depending on care needs, equivalent to £306.80 or £458.40 every four weeks. The payment is not means-tested, so income and savings do not affect entitlement, and people do not need to have a carer or a formal diagnosis to apply.
Attendance Allowance provides similar support for eligible people in England and Wales, with weekly rates of £76.70 and £114.60 depending on the level of care required. It is not means-tested and can also increase entitlement to other benefits, including Pension Credit.
Housing and Council Tax Help
Pensioners who rent their homes and have a low income may qualify for Housing Benefit. Single people who have reached State Pension age can make a new claim, while couples will generally both need to have reached State Pension age unless an exception applies. The amount awarded depends on circumstances including rent, income, savings and household composition. Applications are made through the local council.
Pensioners on low incomes may also qualify for Council Tax Reduction, even if they do not receive Pension Credit. In Scotland, the scheme can reduce an eligible household's bill by up to 100 per cent. Entitlement depends on income, savings and household circumstances, and applications are handled by local councils.
Carer Support Payment
People in Scotland who provide at least 35 hours of unpaid care each week for someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit may be eligible for Carer Support Payment. However, the State Pension and Carer Support Payment are overlapping benefits. Someone receiving a State Pension of at least £86.45 a week will generally not receive an additional Carer Support Payment, though they may still qualify for underlying entitlement, which could increase other benefits including Pension Credit.
Pensioners unsure about their entitlement can use a free benefits calculator, available on MYGOV.SCOT, to check whether they could qualify for additional support.
