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Are you saving enough?
Find out how much your lifestyle could cost when you retire and how to work out if your savings are on track.
Are you saving enough?Check if you are eligible for Pension Credit
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that 880,000 eligible households are yet to claim Pension Credit – a free payment from the government - while many may not even know they are eligible for it.
Next week (2-8 September) is Pension Credit Week of Action, which is all about raising awareness of this vital benefit and encouraging people to check their eligibility and make a claim.
What is 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. It can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
It is separate from your State Pension and you can get it even if you have other income, savings or your own home.
Pension Credit is worth, on average, £3,900 a year. Extra help may be available if you’re:
- a carer
- severely disabled
- responsible for a child or a young person
How to check if you’re eligible
You can use the Pension Credit calculator to find out if you’re eligible for Pension Credit and how much you could get: gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator
If you have a partner, your income is calculated together.
You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached State Pension age to qualify for Pension Credit.
Pension Credit tops up:
- Your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single
- Your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner
If your income is higher, 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.
How to apply
You can apply for Pension Credit online: gov.uk/pension-credit
You can also call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
You’ll need the following information about you and your partner if you have one:
- National Insurance number
- Information about any income, savings and investments you have
- Information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want to backdate your application to (usually 3 months ago or the date you reached State Pension age if this is sooner)
You’ll also need your bank account details. Depending on how you apply, you may also be asked for your bank or building society name, sort code and account number.
What else could I get if I claim Pension Credit?
If you get Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:
- The Winter Fuel Payment
- Help with heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme and Cold Weather Payment
- Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
- Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
- A Council Tax discount
- A free TV Licence if you’re aged 75 or over
- Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments, if you get a certain type of Pension Credit
- A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you’re moving house
Where to find more information
More information on Pension Credit is available on the government website: gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim
If you’re on social media look out for new content going out on DWP’s accounts on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Follow #pensioncredit for the latest posts as part of this year’s Pension Credit Week of Action campaign.
Matt Riley
Manager
Matt joined Zedra Governance Limited (formerly PTL) in January 2008 having previously worked for Mercer Limited, Hazell Carr and Prudential.
As a Manager for the company's Birmingham Office, Matt’s responsibilities include working closely with Client Directors and individually liaising with Employers, Trustees and Members to ensure the smooth running of their pension schemes. Matt’s current portfolio of clients covers ongoing, paid-up and winding-up schemes. In addition, Matt has experience of schemes that have transferred or are in the process of transferring to the Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme. Matt also works closely with clients in relation to risk registers and internal controls.
Matt particularly enjoys resolving issues in a fair and pragmatic way ensuring that the right result is reached for the member or employer.
Sam Burden
Client Director
Sam Burden joined Zedra Governance (formerly PTL) in 2022. He is an Accredited Professional Pension Trustee (AMAPPT) and an Associate of the Pensions Management Institute (APMI)
Sam has more than 25 years’ experience in the pensions industry gained with WTW, KPMG, and Standard Life working with a wide range of pension schemes and sponsoring employers. His trustee appointments include DB, DC and hybrid pension schemes and he has experience of handling a broad range of projects relating to the management of pension schemes.
Beyond his pensions experience Sam is a former Birmingham City Councillor where he chaired the audit committee and a current charity trustee.
Payam Kazemian
Client Director
Payam Kazemian joined Zedra Governance Limited (formerly PTL Governance Limited) in 2021. He is an Accredited Professional Pension Trustee (AMAPPT) and an Associate of the Pensions Management Institute (APMI).
Payam has more than 17 years of experience in the pensions industry. Through his current role as a professional trustee, as well as previously as a pension’s de-risking and investment structuring expert at financial institutions including Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, he has had overall responsibility for creating investment, de-risking, journey planning, and governance solutions for a wide range of UK DB pension schemes. He currently holds a number of board positions (as Chair of Trustees) and sole trustee in his professional trustee capacity. Payam has been involved with a number of pensions projects including pensions buy-in, pensions buy-out, GMP equalisation, investment strategy reviews, and dialogue with the pensions regulator. Payam looks to create and believes in a collaborative relationship between the sponsor, the trustee, and all other parties involved as this results in best member outcomes and helps deliver pragmatic solutions for scheme. Aside from his pensions experience, Payam holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Cambridge.
