Lots of of hundreds of persons are nonetheless failing to assert it.
Key £4,300 DWP profit unlocks gate for ‘substantial monetary assist’ (Picture: Getty)
Pension Credit score stays the “gateway to substantial extra assist”, an skilled says, as current figures present purposes have plummeted by a 3rd. Lots of of hundreds of pensioners are eligible to assert the Division for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Pension Credit score profit, which goals to spice up individuals’s state pension and supply them with a extra affordable way of life.
To qualify, households should have a weekly earnings beneath sure thresholds. Candidates should additionally reside in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached State Pension age to qualify. The profit may enhance an individual’s earnings by £4,300 a yr on common, although the quantity will differ relying in your circumstances. Nonetheless, tons of of hundreds of persons are nonetheless failing to assert it regardless of being eligible. Claims additionally dropped by greater than a 3rd between February 24, 2025 and February 22, 2026, in contrast with the identical interval a yr earlier, in keeping with official Authorities figures cited by AJ Bell.
BBC licence price: Martin Lewis outlines pension credit score eligibility
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Adam Cole, retirement specialist at Quilter, says the marked lower in pension credit score purposes is “nearly completely defined by the Authorities’s fast shift in Winter Gasoline Cost guidelines”.
“Final winter’s choice to make the cost depending on Pension Credit score drove a surge of curiosity from individuals making an attempt to guard their entitlement,” he stated.
“With the return to a common cost (topic to the earnings threshold of £35,000), that incentive has disappeared, and purposes have dropped 36%.”
Mr Cole says what he describes as that “quick interval of coverage flip-flopping” did have one optimistic influence.
“It pushed Pension Credit score into the highlight and compelled many pensioners to verify what they had been entitled to, however as that focus has waned, so too have purposes,” the finance skilled added.
He famous that awards have solely dropped by 13%, which he says “exhibits the underlying pool of eligible households has barely modified”, which means it is engagement quite than want which has declined.
Final month, the Authorities printed analysis on Pension Credit score journeys to grasp the limitations to individuals claiming.
Mr Cole stated the examine “reinforces why take-up stays so fragile”. “It finds consciousness is inconsistent, understanding of eligibility is low, and plenty of entitled individuals assume they don’t qualify as a result of they personal their residence, have modest financial savings or have a companion with earnings.”
“Consciousness of the passported advantages can also be restricted, although these typically drive purposes when individuals realise what they’re lacking,” he added.
“Crucially, many candidates solely succeed as a result of relations or carers intervene to navigate a course of that older pensioners typically discover overwhelming.
“This matches lengthy standing proof that pension credit score is advanced and that consciousness, not generosity, is the true barrier.”
He says the 38% drop in claims that had been rejected “underlines the influence of final yr’s coverage spike quite than any simplification of the principles”.
Mr Cole notes that backlogs have “improved sharply, however processing effectivity will not be the identical as enhancing real take up”.
In his opinion, the core subject is “too many eligible pensioners aren’t coming ahead except pushed by sudden coverage adjustments”.
“Pension Credit score stays the gateway to substantial extra assist and that doesn’t change with Winter Gasoline Cost coverage,” he added. “A system the place purposes fall by greater than a 3rd whereas eligibility is broadly unchanged exhibits that the limitations to claiming are nonetheless entrenched.
“With out clearer communication and extra focused outreach, many pensioners on low incomes will proceed to overlook out on important assist.”
A DWP spokesperson stated: “The Authorities needs all pensioners to get the assist they’re rightly entitled to and due to our greatest ever Pension Credit score take-up marketing campaign, we’ve got seen an extra 33,500 pension credit score awards in 2025 in contrast with the earlier yr.
“To assist enhance claims we’ve got additionally undertaken a brand new trial with Age UK and Unbiased Age which targets pensioners who’re more than likely to be eligible for Pension Credit score however not at present claiming the profit.”
Apart from the money enhance, you can too unlock entry to different technique of assist by claiming, like council tax reductions and free TV licences.
To make a declare, the applicant should reside in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached the state pension age (at present 66 and over).
If this is applicable, the particular person should then work out their complete weekly earnings. This could embrace the state pension, different pensions, earnings from employment and self-employment, and most social safety advantages, comparable to Carer’s Allowance.
Eligible single individuals will see their weekly earnings topped as much as £227.10, whereas these with companions will see their joint weekly earnings topped as much as £346.60.
You will discover out extra about pension credit score and eligibility standards on the UK Authorities web site.
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