Figures in this article are from GOV.UK and DWP, checked in October 2026. Benefit rates and rules change, so check GOV.UK before you claim.

Hundreds of thousands of pensioners who could get Pension Credit don't claim it. The DWP estimates that up to 910,000 families who were entitled to Pension Credit weren't claiming it in 2023/24. The government has said Pension Credit is worth about £4,300 a year on average to those eligible but not claiming.

Pension Credit can also unlock other help, and it affects how you get the Winter Fuel Payment.

Winter Fuel Payment 2026/27

You'll get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026/27 if you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. The payment is between £100 and £300, depending on your age and circumstances, and is paid in November or December 2026. Most people get it automatically.

If your taxable income is over £35,000, HMRC will take the payment back through the tax system. People who get Pension Credit or certain other benefits during the qualifying week, 21 to 27 September 2026, still get the payment.

In Scotland, the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment replaces the Winter Fuel Payment and is run by Social Security Scotland.

Energy costs remain high. The Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 is £1,723 a year for a typical household.

Who can get Pension Credit

To get Pension Credit you must have reached State Pension age and live in England, Scotland or Wales. If you live with a partner, you usually both need to have reached State Pension age. A couple where only one partner has reached it can still qualify if that partner gets Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age. Some couples who were already getting Pension Credit before 15 May 2019 can also keep it. There are some exceptions for couples who were already getting Pension Credit or Housing Benefit before the rules changed. See GOV.UK’s Pension Credit eligibility rules.

Income includes your State Pension, other pensions, earnings and some benefits. You may get more, or qualify even if your income is higher, if you:

• are a carer

• have a severe disability

• are responsible for a child or young person who lives with you

• have housing costs

• reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and saved for retirement, for example through a pension (see Savings Credit below)

For comparison, the Pension Credit threshold for a single person is equivalent to about £12,376 a year. The median State Pension for single pensioners was £11,440 a year (2024/25 prices).

How savings affect Pension Credit: savings and investments of £10,000 or less don’t affect your Pension Credit. Above £10,000, every £500 (or part of £500) counts as £1 of weekly income. For example, £11,200 in savings counts as £3 a week. This is separate from Savings Credit, which is an extra payment for some people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and saved for their retirement.

You can use the Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK to check what you might get.

What else Pension Credit can help with

If you get Pension Credit, you may also be able to get:

• Housing Benefit, if you rent

• Council Tax Reduction

• a free TV licence, if you're 75 or over

• free NHS dental treatment and help with the cost of glasses

• Cold Weather Payments

• the Warm Home Discount

How to claim Pension Credit

You can claim from four months before you reach State Pension age. Claims can be backdated by up to three months if you were eligible during that time.

You can claim:

• online at GOV.UK

• by phone on 0800 99 1234

• by post, using a claim form from GOV.UK

How the Winter Fuel Payment is taken back if your income is over £35,000

If your taxable income is over £35,000 and you don't get Pension Credit or another qualifying benefit, HMRC will recover the payment. For the 2026/27 payment, this is expected to happen through your tax code from April 2027, or through your 2026/27 Self Assessment tax return (due 31 January 2028) if you file one. You can also choose to opt out of receiving the payment. Check GOV.UK for how to do this and the deadline.

Read more:

• Average Cost of Electricity per kWh in the UK

• What to do if you’re struggling to pay your energy bills

• What's the average State Pension - and is it enough to live on?