Pension Credit 2026/27 — Who Qualifies and How to Claim

Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit that tops up the income of low-income pensioners in the UK to a minimum guaranteed amount. For 2026/27, the Guarantee Credit threshold is £238 per week for single people and £363.25 per week for couples — equivalent to £12,376 or £18,889 per year. If your total income falls below these thresholds, Pension Credit makes up the difference. DWP estimates that in the financial year ending March 2024, up to 910,000 families in Great Britain who were entitled to Pension Credit did not claim it, and up to £2.5 billion went unclaimed.

Quick answer: If you have reached State Pension age and your weekly income is below £238 (single) or £363.25 (couple), you are likely eligible for Pension Credit. Getting Pension Credit can also qualify you for the Warm Home Discount, Council Tax Reduction and, with the Guarantee Credit part, help with NHS costs such as dental treatment. Call 0800 99 1234 to claim.

Pension Credit Rates 2026/27

Rates are uprated each April. The figures above are the 2026/27 rates on gov.uk.

Two Components of Pension Credit

1. Guarantee Credit

Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to the minimum threshold. It is available to everyone who has reached State Pension age and has income below the threshold.

Example: Margaret is 68 and single. Her State Pension is £180/week and she has a small occupational pension of £25/week. Total income: £205/week.

The Guarantee Credit top-up: £238 − £205 = £33.00/week (£1,716/year in Pension Credit).

2. Savings Credit

Savings Credit rewards pensioners who saved for retirement above and beyond the basic State Pension. It is only available to those who reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016 (when the new State Pension was introduced).

• Maximum Savings Credit (2026/27): £17.96/week (single), £20.10/week (couple)
• No new claimants who reached State Pension age on or after April 6, 2016 are eligible for Savings Credit

Additional Amounts That Boost Pension Credit

If you have additional circumstances, your Pension Credit threshold may be higher:

These additions increase the income threshold at which you are eligible, meaning households with these circumstances can qualify even at higher income levels.

How Savings Affect Pension Credit

Savings are treated as generating a notional income for Pension Credit purposes:

Example: Derek has £20,000 in savings (£10,000 above the £10,000 threshold). His assumed income from savings: £10,000 ÷ £500 = £20/week. This £20/week is added to his actual income when calculating Pension Credit eligibility.

What Pension Credit Unlocks

Claiming Pension Credit provides access to a range of additional benefits:

Key point: The value of these additional benefits can far exceed the Pension Credit top-up itself. A pensioner who qualifies for Pension Credit and lives in rented accommodation could receive hundreds or thousands of pounds in combined benefits.

How to Claim Pension Credit

Phone (Recommended)

Call 0800 99 1234 — the Pension Credit claim line, free to call. Lines open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. A friend or family member can call for you if you cannot use the phone.

You will need:

• National Insurance number
• Bank account details (for payment)
• Details of income (State Pension, private pensions, employment)
• Details of savings and investments
• Information about housing costs (rent or mortgage)

Online

Claim via the GOV.UK online service if you have already applied for your State Pension. You can also apply by post using the Pension Credit claim form.

Backdating

You can backdate a Pension Credit claim by up to 3 months. The DWP will pay arrears going back 3 months from the date of your claim, provided you were eligible throughout that period.

How Many Eligible Pensioners Don’t Claim

DWP’s latest take-up estimates, for the financial year ending March 2024 (published October 2025), found that 62% of those entitled to Pension Credit claimed it. Up to 910,000 entitled families in Great Britain did not claim, and up to £2.5 billion of Pension Credit went unclaimed. Points that are easy to miss:

• Savings don’t rule you out — £10,000 or less in savings and investments does not affect Pension Credit
• Other income and home ownership don’t rule you out — Pension Credit can be paid even if you have other income, savings or own your own home
• Extra amounts raise the threshold — with a disability, caring responsibilities or housing costs, you might be eligible on a higher income

The Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK gives an estimate, and the claim line is 0800 99 1234.

Pension Credit and State Pension Interactions

The new full State Pension (2026/27: £241.30/week) is above the Pension Credit Guarantee Credit threshold for single people (£238). This means most people receiving the full new State Pension will not qualify for the basic Guarantee Credit top-up — though they might still be eligible if they have a disability, care for someone, have savings or have housing costs.

People with gaps in their National Insurance record who receive less than the full State Pension are more likely to qualify. See our State Pension guide for details on NI record requirements.

Related UK Retirement and Benefits Resources

• UK State Pension Guide — qualifying years, deferral, and NI top-up
• National Insurance Guide — building your NI record
• UK Universal Credit Guide — working-age benefit for lower-income households
• High Income Child Benefit Charge — HICBC for higher earners
• UK Personal Finance Hub — budgeting, income, and benefits in the UK

Pension Credit is one of the most valuable underclaimed benefits in the UK. If you or an elderly relative is on a low income in retirement, one phone call to the claim line can settle whether Pension Credit and the help that comes with it apply.

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.