State pensioners could be missing out on a £238-a-week benefit boost from the Department for Work and Pensions, as new DWP data reveals applications for Pension Credit have slumped by more than a third over the past year. The figures, analysed by consumer group Which?, show there were 209,735 Pension Credit applications between February 2025 and February 2026, a 36% drop from the 326,842 received during the previous 12 months.
Application numbers fall despite government urging
Applications briefly surged to around 10,000 a week but have since fallen back to the long-term average of about 4,000 a week. This decline comes despite ministers urging older people to check whether they qualify. Which? fears many older people are still wrongly assuming they are not entitled to the benefit.
Pension Credit eligibility and amounts
For the 2026-27 financial year, if you are single and your weekly income is below £238.00, Guarantee Credit tops up your income to this amount. For couples, it tops up joint weekly income to £363.25. To qualify, you must live in the UK and have reached state pension age, currently 66.
You might qualify for extra Pension Credit if you are a carer receiving Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment, have severe disabilities, are responsible for children or young people, or have certain housing costs such as ground rent on a leasehold property.
Savings Credit for older pensioners
Savings Credit is only available for people who reached state pension age before April 2016. However, if you are in a couple and your partner reached state pension age before 6 April 2016, you could still qualify. To qualify, you must have a minimum income for 2026-27 of £208.07 a week if single, or £329.75 a week if in a couple, and you must also have saved some money for retirement, for example via a personal or workplace pension.
Savings Credit is worth up to £17.96 a week for a single person and £20.10 for couples. For every £1 by which your income exceeds the savings credit threshold (£208.07 a week if single, £329.75 for couples), your savings credit is reduced by 40p.
How Pension Credit is paid
Pension Credit payments go directly into your bank, building society or post office account. You have the option of weekly, fortnightly or four-weekly payments. It can be paid to someone with power of attorney or an appointee if appropriate.
