The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared that 78% of new Pension Credit claims are being processed within the targeted 50 working day timescale. Pensions Minister Torsten Bell says the DWP is ‘working hard to meet its published timeliness standard of processing claims and reduce Pension Credit processing times’.
In a detailed written response to Liberal Democrat MP Chris Coghlan, the DWP minister said that more than 500 staff have been reassigned to speed up the processing of further Pension Credit claims. Mr Bell highlighted that from July 29, 2024, to February 9, 2025, 211,600 claims were processed, marking an 87% boost in clearance rates.
Furthermore, he stated on April 30: “Escalation arrangements are also in place for cases where individuals are identified as being vulnerable or in immediate hardship.”
The DWP has also updated its online Pension Credit guidance to assist more elderly citizens in claiming their State Pension top-up, which could amount to £4,300 over the financial year 2025/26.
It’s important for all senior citizens – whether single, married, or cohabiting – to ensure they’re claiming all the extra financial support available to them this year. This is especially important to boost their income amidst the persistent cost-of-living crisis, reports the Daily Record.
Pension Credit is the most underclaimed benefit. It is designed to provide additional financial support for low-income older people, both singles and couples. Nearly 1.4 million older people across Great Britain are currently receiving this means-tested benefit, which could offer an average of £4,300 in extra support in the upcoming months.
Some elderly individuals wrongly assume that having savings or owning their home makes them ineligible for this means-tested benefit, which can also provide help with housing costs, heating bills and council tax.
An award of merely £1 per week is sufficient to unlock other support. Below is a summary of the benefit, including who should check eligibility, how to claim it and how much you could receive.
Who is eligible for Pension Credit?
There are two types of Pension Credit – Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.
To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit, you must be State Pension age (66). Your weekly income needs to be less than the minimum amount the UK Government says you need to live on.
For a single person, this is £227.10 and for a couple, it’s £346.60. These amounts may differ if you are a carer or have certain housing costs.
Meanwhile, you can only claim Savings Credit in the following circumstances:
- You reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, or you have a partner who reached State Pension age before this date and was already receiving it
- You have a qualifying income of at least £198.27 a week for a single person and £314.34 a week for a couple
How much might you receive?
Savings Credit may provide:
- £17.30 a week for a single person
- £19.36 a week for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting).
The precise amount you receive depends on your income and savings. Your income includes any assumed earnings from savings and capital that exceed £10,000.
Guarantee Credit may provide:
- £227.10 for a single person
- £346.60 for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting)
You may be eligible for additional support if you are disabled, a carer, or have specific housing costs.
How to check eligibility and where to make a claim
Older adults, along with friends and family, can easily check their eligibility and receive an estimate of what they might get by using the online Pension Credit calculator available on GOV.UK.
If you have a partner, you will also need their details. You will be presented with a series of questions with multiple-choice answers.
This includes:
- Any savings, investments or bonds you have
- Your date of birth
- Your residential status
- Where in the UK you live
- Whether you are registered blind
- Which benefits you currently receive
- How much you receive each week for any benefits you get
- Whether someone is paid Carer’s Allowance to look after you
- How much you get each week from pensions – State Pension, private and work pensions
- Any employment earnings
Once you have answered the questions, a summary screen will show your responses, allowing you to review and change any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator will then display how much benefit you could receive each week.
After that, you can follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to additional financial support. There is also an option to print off the answers you provide using the calculator tool.
This can help you complete the application form more quickly, so you won’t have to search for the same information again. Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or a family member to ensure you are receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim.
Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly at 0800 99 1234. The lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can make a claim any time after reaching State Pension age, but your claim can only be backdated for three months.
This means you could receive up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.
You will need:
- Your National Insurance number
- Details about your income, savings and investments
- Your bank account details, if you’re applying by phone or by post
If you are backdating your claim, you will need details of your income, savings, and investments as of the date you wish your claim to begin.
Apply online
You can use the online service if:
- You have already claimed your State Pension
- There are no children or young people included in your claim
