State Pension Age Couples Could Get £4,300 Boost with Pension Credit

Thousands of pensioners across the UK could be missing out on a yearly income boost worth £4,300, simply because they haven’t claimed Pension Credit. This means-tested benefit is designed to support older people on low incomes, yet an estimated 760,000 pensioners who are eligible haven’t applied for it.

With the cost of living still squeezing household budgets, especially for the retired, this financial top-up could make a big difference. Here’s what you need to know, who qualifies, how much you could get, and how to claim it quickly.

Boost

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the average Pension Credit award is worth around £4,300 per year. That breaks down to around £83 per week—not including access to other forms of support the benefit unlocks.

Currently, nearly 1.4 million people claim it, but the DWP believes many more are missing out. That’s why they’ve extended their awareness campaign through the end of the 2025/26 financial year.

Limits

So, who qualifies? If your income is below certain thresholds, you could be eligible.

Household Type	Weekly Income Threshold
Single Pensioner	Less than £227.10
Pensioner Couple	Less than £346.00

Many assume that owning a home or having modest savings disqualifies them—but that’s not true. You may still qualify, even if you have savings, investments or are a homeowner.

Even a small award, such as £1 per week, can be incredibly valuable. That’s because Pension Credit can open the door to other help such as:

• Housing Benefit
• Help with Council Tax
• Cold Weather Payments
• Free TV licence (if over 75)
• Warm Home Discount

Timing

If you make a claim this month, and you’re eligible, you could receive your first payment (including backdated amounts) before the end of January.

The DWP states that 78% of new claims are processed within 10 weeks. That means a successful application now can help boost your winter finances, especially when energy bills peak.

Mixed

Since May 2019, the rules around couples have changed. Now, mixed age couples—where one partner is over State Pension age and the other is under—are treated as working age when it comes to benefits.

This means they cannot claim Pension Credit until both partners are of State Pension age. Before this change, you could claim once just one person had reached the qualifying age.

So if you’re part of a mixed-age couple, you’ll need to wait until both of you qualify to apply.

Check

The fastest and easiest way to check your eligibility is online, using the Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK.

It only takes a few minutes and can give you an estimate of how much you might receive. If you prefer speaking to someone, you can also call the Pension Credit helpline:

• Phone: 0800 99 1234
• Hours: 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday

Family or friends can help older people use the calculator or make the call if they find it difficult themselves.

Apply

You can apply for Pension Credit:

• Online, via GOV.UK (if you’ve already claimed State Pension and have no dependents)
• By phone, by calling 0800 99 1234
• By post, using a paper application form

You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. If you delay applying, you can still backdate your claim by up to three months—but no more than that.

What you’ll need:

• Your National Insurance number
• Details about your income, savings, and investments
• Bank account details (if applying by phone or post)
• If backdating your claim, info about your financial position during the period you’re claiming for

Even if you think you’re not eligible, it’s worth checking—many pensioners wrongly assume they don’t qualify. A quick check could mean hundreds or even thousands of extra pounds a year.

FAQs