Married pensioners could be entitled to additional payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through Pension Credit, but many may not be aware of this top-up benefit. Under current DWP rules, certain benefits are excluded from the income calculation, potentially boosting eligibility.
Pension Credit Eligibility Criteria
Married couples with a joint weekly income below £363.25, or single pensioners earning less than £238.00 per week, may qualify for Pension Credit. This benefit increases your income to those thresholds. Even if your income is higher, you might still be eligible if you have a disability, care for someone, have savings, or face housing costs.
What Counts as Income?
Income includes the DWP State Pension, other pensions, earnings from employment and self-employment, and most social security benefits such as Carer's Allowance. However, the following 10 benefits are not counted as income:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- DWP Christmas Bonus
- Child Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Personal Independence Payment
- Social fund payments (e.g., Winter Fuel Allowance)
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
Savings and Investments Impact
If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investments, this does not affect your Pension Credit. For amounts over £10,000, every £500 above that threshold counts as £1 of weekly income. For example, £11,000 in savings would be treated as £2 per week income.
How to Check Eligibility and Claim
Older people, or their friends and family, can use the online Pension Credit calculator on the DWP website for a quick eligibility check and estimate of potential payments. Alternatively, pensioners can call the Pension Credit helpline at 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) to make a claim.
Applications can be submitted up to four months before reaching State Pension age. Claims made after reaching State Pension age can be backdated by up to three months, meaning you could receive up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if eligible during that period.
