Pension Credit 

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you are over State Pension age and on a low income.  Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or services charges.  Pension Credit is separate from your state pension.  You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.
 

Eligibility

You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached state pension age.  If you have a partner you must include your partner on your application.  You will be eligible if either you and your partner have both reached state pension age or one of you is getting housing benefits for people over state pension age.
A partner is either:

• Your husband, wife or civil partner – if you live with them
• Someone you live with as a couple, without being married or in a civil partnership

Your income

When you apply for Pension Credit your income is calculated.  If you have a partner, your income is calculated together.

Pension Credit tops up:

• Your weekly income to £177.10 if you are single
• Your joint weekly income to £270.30 if you have a partner

Please check on the following link to ensure that these amounts are still correct: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit

If your income is higher, you might still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability,  you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.
 

What Counts As Income

Your income includes:

• State pension
• Other pensions
• Earnings from employment and self-employment
• Most social security benefits e.g. Carer's Allowance

 

What Does Not Count as Income

Not all benefits are counted as income.  For example, the following are not counted:

• Attendance Allowance
• Christmas Bonus
• Child Benefit
• Disability Living Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Social fund payments like Winter Fuel Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Reduction

 

Your Savings and investments

If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investments this will not affect your Pension Credit.  If you have more than £10,000 every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week.  For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week.
 

Additional Payments

You could get additional payments if:

• You have a severe disability 
• You care for another adult
• You are responsible for children or young people
• You have housing costs e.g. ground rent, service charges

 

How to Claim

You can start your application up to 4 months before you reach the state pension age.
You can apply any time after you reach State Pension age but your application can only be backdated by 3 months.

In order to complete your application, you will need the following information about you and your partner (if you have one)
 

National Insurance number

Information about any income, savings and investments you have
Your bank account details

You can apply online, by phone (0800 991 234) or by post.

If you need help completing this form, contact us on 01440 712950 or email info@reachhaverhill.org.uk