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Pension Credits

Pension Credit – extra help for pensioners

Are you single and have a weekly income of less than £201.05 or £306.85 if you have a partner? If so, you might be able to join the many people in borough of Bury already receiving Pension Credit.

It is estimated that 2,300 eligible pensioners in Bury are missing out on Pension Credit entitlements worth over £5,500,000 per year.

What are Pension Credits?

Pension Credit is extra money to help you cover your costs if you're over State Pension age and living on a low income. Many people don’t claim for various reasons. Below I have put together the main reasons.

“I don’t think I’ll be eligible for Pension Credit”

False – Do not rule anyone out. Around 1.5 million pensioners across the UK receive it but about 1 million are eligible but are not claiming it.

“I’d get so little, it’s not worth claiming”

False – The average Pension Credit payment is actually over £65 per week – that’s well over an extra £3,000 per year. Even if you only got a few pounds, getting Pension Credit can provide a passport to help with things like rent, council tax, Cold Weather Payments, a free TV licence for people aged 75+ and extra support with the cost-of-living crisis.

“I have savings, so I will not get anything”

False – People can have savings or another pension and still get Pension Credits.

“I own my own home, so I won’t get anything”

False – Almost half of the people who get Pension Credit own their own home.

“I can’t get a State Pension, so I won’t be eligible”

False – You may be entitled to Pension Credit, even if you’re not entitled to a State Pension.

“I have never claimed for anything – I don’t want to start now”

Pension Credits are an entitlement to money that you as a taxpayer paid into the government when you were working. Basically, you gave the government a loan and now you are getting it back!

“It’s very complicated”

True – Pension Credits is not an easy thing to explain, but there is lots of support to help you.

Check to see if you are entitled to Pension Credit

Use the Pension Credit Calculator to find out how much Pension Credit someone may be entitled to – without giving any personal details.

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator

How to make a claim

You can apply online at this link: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim

Alternatively, you can call the Pension Credit claim line on Telephone: 0800 99 1234 from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.

You can also make a claim via textphone, Relay UK, British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service and by post – go to https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim for more details.

What you need when making a claim

When you claim Pension Credit, you will be asked for:

  • Your National insurance (NI) number. This can be found on payslips, tax papers and letters from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
  • An idea of how much money you have coming in each week. For example, this could be details of any pension you get from a former employer or a personal pension plan, and how often it is paid.
  • Details of any savings and investments. The Pension Service will ask for the current balance in any bank and savings accounts as well as details of any investments, such as shares, premium bonds or unit trust certificates.
  • Information on housing costs, such as mortgage interest, service charges or ground rent.

If you have a partner, you will need to have the same information about them.

If you need help making a claim

Our Information and Advice Service support people with making a claim. Call us on 0161 763 9030 and Joanne or Irene will call your back. This is a free service for older people and their carers who live in Bury.

For more information about Pension Credits

We have loads of free information booklets about Pension Credits and other entitlements at the Jubilee Centre, and our charity shops on The Rock and in Ramsbottom. 

For more information online, go to