Money Advice Service

Up to 1.6 million pensioners are living in poverty, according to Age UK. But many are failing to claim the benefits they’re entitled to. Don’t miss out on your money – here’s a list of benefits you could potentially claim and how to find out if you’re eligible.

State Pension

The State Pension gives you a regular taxable income for the rest of your life.

It’s not means-tested, but the amount you get depends on how many qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits you’ve built up.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit is for people who are on a low income and is designed to top up a pensioner’s income to a guaranteed minimum level.

Many people entitled to Pension Credit don’t claim it, so make sure you find out whether you’re eligible and don’t miss out if you are.

Help with Council Tax

Whether you own your home or rent, you could be eligible for support from your local authority (or the Welsh and Scottish Governments) to help you pay your Council Tax (Council Tax Benefit was abolished on 1 April 2013, but pensioners should find they qualify for the same amount of support locally.)

Help with heating costs

Winter Fuel Payment

This is a tax-free payment to help people born on or before 5 January 1953 keep warm during winter.

The amount paid depends on your age and who lives in your household.

If you’ve received the payment in previous years, you should receive it again without having to claim.

You should also receive it automatically if you meet the age and residence criteria and receive any of a wide range of government benefits including:

  • State Pension
  • Pension Credit,
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance, and
  • Employment and Support Allowance.
Find out more about Winter Fuel Payment on the GOV.UK website

If you need to claim, phone the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on Tel 0845 915 1515.

In Northern Ireland you can find more about the Winter Fuel Payment on the NI Direct website.

You can claim your Winter Fuel Payment in Northern Ireland by calling 0345 915 1515.

Cold Weather Payment

These £25 payments are made when your local temperature is either recorded as, or forecast to be, an average of zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days between 1 November and 31 March each year.

If you’re eligible for any of a range of other income-related benefits, including Pension Credit, you’ll be eligible for Cold Weather Payments.

There’s no need to apply for it, if you’re eligible, it will be paid automatically.

To find out more go to gov.uk/cold-weather-payment.

Warm Homes Discount scheme

Certain people can get a £140 deduction from their winter electricity bill for 2017/ 18.

There are two ways to be eligible:

  • If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit and your supplier is part of the scheme, you will normally get this deduction automatically from your bill.
  • If you’re on a low income, claim certain means-tested benefits and your supplier is part of the scheme you can also get this deduction. You should get in touch with your electricity supplier for details.

People on pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meters can also get the discount, but you will need to talk to your supplier about how to get it.

Find out more about the Warm Home Discount, if you qualify and the energy suppliers involved on Gov.uk.

The scheme does not apply in Northern Ireland as fuel poverty is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, which decides its own fuel poverty objectives and policies.

Insulation and heating schemes

There are a number of schemes that install insulation and heating improvements to make your home more energy efficient.

You’re likely to be eligible if your home is poorly insulated or doesn’t have a working central heating system, and if you receive any of a range of income-related benefits including Pension Credit.

Use the links below to find out more:

For more information on insulation and other ways to cut you energy bill read our guide on saving money on gas and electricity bills.

Health benefits

Everyone aged over 60 gets free prescriptions and eye tests.

You might also be eligible for help towards:

  • Dental treatment‚
  • Travel costs to hospital, and
  • Glasses or contact lenses

In Northern Ireland, everyone is entitled to free prescriptions.

Find out more about getting help with health-related costs on the NHS Choices website

Disability and care benefits

A number of benefits are available to people who have disabilities, or who have specific care needs.

These benefits include Disability Living Allowance (gradually being replaced by Personal Independence Payment) and Attendance Allowance.

Find out more, including how to apply, on the GOV.UK website

Travel and TV benefits

Bus passes

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you qualify for a free bus pass when you’re 60 or over.

In England, if you’re a woman you can get one when you reach State Pension age.

If you’re a man, you qualify when you reach the State Pension age of a woman born on the same day.

If you live in a London borough and are over 60, you qualify for a free travel Oyster photocard.

Find out more on the GOV.UK website

Travel concessions

If you are over 60 or disabled find out about travel concessions below.

Free bus travel for older people in England
Free bus travel for disabled people in England
Concessionary travel in Scotland
Concessionary travel in Wales
Free bus travel and concessions in Northern Ireland
Oyster photocard for over 60s in London

Free passport

If you were born on or before 2 September 1929 and are a British national, you could be eligible for a free passport.

You will need a full ten-year passport if you want to travel abroad, even if it is for just a day.

Find out more and how to apply on the GOV.UK website

Free TV licence

If you’re aged 75 or over, you also get a free TV licence.

Find out how more and how to apply on the GOV.UK website

If you are blind or severely sight impaired you’re eligible to apply for a 50% discount online here.

If you live in a nursing or residential care home you can probably get a discounted rate, find out more here.

Benefits for war pensioners and widows

If your husband, wife or civil partner died as a result of their service in Her Majesty’s (HM) Armed Forces, or during a time of war, then you might be entitled to a War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension.

You can get a claim form from Veterans UK on Tel 0808 1914 218.

Medical costs for war pensioners

If you need medical treatment because you were disabled while serving in the Armed Forces, you could get help towards your medical costs for your accepted disability.

Find out more about medical costs for war veterans.

War Disablement Pension

If you were injured or disabled while serving in the Armed Forces before 6 April 2005 you can get extra help towards your pension.

Find out more about War Disablement Pension on the GOV.UK website.

Use an online benefit calculator

Using an online benefit calculator on the GOV.UK website is a good way to:

  • Check which benefits you might be entitled to
  • Estimate the amounts you might be able to claim
  • Show the estimates would change if your circumstances changed

The tool will ask you for anonymous information about your savings and income, as well as your spending on key things such as rent, mortgage or childcare payments.

Use a benefit calculator on the GOV.UK website to find out what you might be entitled to.

You can also get free advice from Turn2Us – a charitable service that helps people access welfare benefits, grants and other support.

This article is provided by the Money Advice Service.