Pension Credit

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

If you are part of a couple, please note that both of you will need to have reached State Pension age before you can make a new claim for Pension Credit. The only exception is if one of you receives Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age.

State Pension

The State Pension is based on National Insurance contributions and is paid when you reach pension age. State Pension age is currently 66 for women and men. For those born after 5 April 1960, there will be a phased increase in State Pension age to 67, and eventually 68.

What is Pension Credit?

There are two parts to Pension Credit:

Guarantee Credit - tops up your weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level set by the UK Government.
Savings Credit – please note that Savings Credit is being phased out - you can only claim it if you reached your State Pension age before 6th April 2016.

Who gets Guarantee Credit?

You could be entitled to Guarantee Credit if your weekly income is less than

£218.15 per week if you’re single; or
£332.95 combined income per week if you are part of a couple.

When you apply for Pension Credit your income is calculated. If you have a partner, your income is calculated together. If your income is higher than the amount above, 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, for example Carer’s Allowance.

Not all benefits are counted as income. For example, disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment and Attendance Allowance are not counted.

Other help if you get Pension Credit

If you receive one or both parts of Pension Credit, you may be entitled to other help, for example with housing, energy or health costs.

If you receive either Savings Credit or Guarantee Credit you are entitled to:

An automatic Winter Heating Payment from Social Security Scotland;
A free TV licence if you are aged 75+;
Cheaper social tariffs (broadband) if available.

Additionally, if you receive Guarantee Credit, you can claim:

Help with health costs;
Council Tax Reduction and help with rent from Housing Benefit (the amount you receive will depend on your living circumstances).

If you get Savings Credit only:

You may be entitled to Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, depending on your circumstances.

Other entitlements may be available from the Government on a yearly basis.

Additions to the basic amount

Your income may be topped up beyond the basic amounts (£218.15 if you’re single or £332.95 if you’re part of a couple) in certain circumstances.

The most common additions are:

People living with a disability - if you live alone, receive a qualifying benefit and no-one receives Carer’s Allowance for supporting you, you may be entitled to an additional amount of £81.50 per week.

Carers – if you spend 35 hours/week or more caring for someone who receives a disability benefit, you may be entitled to an additional £45.60 per week. (Please note that this may affect benefits for the person you care for so please get advice before claiming.)

Find out how much you could get

Use a Pension Credit calculator to work out how much you might get.

How do I apply?

You can start your application up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age.

You can apply any time after you reach State Pension age but your application can only be backdated by 3 months. This means you can get up to 3 months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.

Information you’ll need

You’ll need the following details to complete your application:

Your National Insurance number;
Information about your income, savings and investments (if you have them);
Details of any housing costs;
Your partner’s details (if you have one): and
Your bank account details.

Do I qualify for Pension Credit?

If you need any support applying for Pension Credit or are unsure whether you qualify for Pension Credit, we are here to help. Please get in touch with your housing officer on 0141 560 6000 if you have any questions. 

Other resources

Age Scotland helpline 0800 12 44 222

Pension Credit helpline 0800 99 1234

Citizens Advice Bureau 0800 028 1456 or visit www.cas.org.uk

Social Security Scotland – find information on their website www.socialsecurity.gov.scot or call their helpline 0800 182 2222.