UK pensioners urged to check Pension Credit and other support

Around 13 million people across the United Kingdom have now reached State Pension age, and many face a complex patchwork of entitlements and support they may not be claiming, officials and advisory services say. The contributory State Pension remains the main source of income for a large number of retirees, with the New State Pension paying up to £921 every four weeks for about 4.1 million recipients and the Basic State Pension providing up to £705.80 for roughly 8.8 million pensioners.

Pension Credit, a means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age on low incomes, currently helps about 1.4 million households and is worth on average about £4,300 a year. The benefit acts as a passport to other forms of support, including Council Tax reductions, help with housing costs, certain NHS concessions and eligibility for a free TV licence where applicable. Pension Credit claims take around 50 working days to process, meaning successful applicants could receive their first payments within a few months. The Department for Work and Pensions operates a Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234, and the government’s online calculators can be used to check entitlement.