The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the NHS and HMRC offer a range of additional benefits and support for retirees, with new figures revealing that 910,000 eligible pensioners are missing out on thousands of pounds each year. As the state pension age rises from 66 to 67, Money Helper has highlighted specific benefits available to people over the state pension age, subject to other criteria.
State Pension Increases and Tax Threshold Concerns
On April 6 2026, the full new state pension rose by just over £11 a week, from £230.25 to £241.30. It now stands at an annual total of £12,548 – perilously close to the £12,570 personal allowance threshold. The basic state pension has increased by £8.45 a week to £184.90, up from £176.45, now worth £9,614.80 a year.
The perks come as Andy Burnham, the Labour Party Prime Minister, has vowed to keep the cost of living at the top of his agenda for households. Pensioners may be entitled to several additional payments and support schemes.
Free Eye Care and Dental Work
In England, people over the age of 60 are usually entitled to free prescriptions and eye tests. They may also be eligible for help towards covering the cost of dental treatment, travel costs to hospital and glasses or contact lenses.
Attendance Allowance
Pensioners with physical or mental health conditions or disabilities could qualify for Attendance Allowance as well. This benefit can provide between £76.70 and £114.60 a week depending on the severity of your health condition and how it affects your daily life.
Attendance Allowance payments can be spent on equipment or help to keep you independent and claimants don’t need to have or even want an attendant in order to qualify. You can also get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance. However, it’s not available to pensioners in Scotland who will need to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment instead of Attendance Allowance.
Pension Credit
Pension Credit is one of the most underclaimed benefits in the UK, with around 910,000 eligible pensioners leaving behind £2.5billion in support according to MSE. Many are missing out simply because they believe they earn or save too much to be eligible.
This benefit is designed to support people over the state pension age who are living on a low income. Pension Credit is now worth an average of £4,300 a year in payments alone but the support doesn’t stop here. It’s known as a ‘gateway benefit’ because successfully claiming it can make people eligible for other support too like free TV licences and help with NHS costs. The Gov.uk website has a Pension Credit calculator to help people find out if they might be eligible and how much they could get.
Winter Fuel Payments
Winter Fuel Payment doesn’t need to be claimed this year as it’s expected to be automatically paid to people over the state pension age. But those who have an income over £35,000 will have the payment clawed back by HMRC through their taxes over the next year.
The benefit provides between £100 and £300 as a once-off tax-free payment to help retirees stay warm during the winter months. To be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment you must be over the state pension age but there are some additional qualifying criteria that have changed over the last few years.
