Thousands of pensioners are missing out on a vital benefit boost worth up to £238 a week, which also unlocks access to free TV licences, assistance with council tax, housing costs, and NHS treatment. New figures show claims for Pension Credit have fallen by more than a third over the past year, despite Government ministers encouraging older people to check their eligibility.
Claims drop by 36%
Department for Work and Pensions data analysed by Which? shows there were 209,735 Pension Credit claims between February 2025 and February 2026, a 36 per cent drop from the 326,842 received during the previous 12 months. The steep decline follows a spike in applications when the Government tied Winter Fuel Payments to Pension Credit, triggering a major awareness drive. Claims briefly reached around 10,000 per week, but have since dropped back to the long-term average of roughly 4,000 per week, reports the Express.
Misconceptions about eligibility
Consumer group Which? is concerned that many older people are still mistakenly believing they do not qualify for the benefit. Being a homeowner, having savings or receiving a private pension does not automatically disqualify you from eligibility. Research commissioned by the DWP found many successful applicants only realised they were eligible after submitting what they thought was an unlikely claim. Those aged over 75 were particularly likely to find out about the benefit by accident, while people aged between 66 and 74 were more likely to learn about it directly from the DWP.
What Pension Credit offers
Worth up to £238 a week, Pension Credit is intended to supplement the income of those who have reached State Pension age and are struggling on a low income. The Guarantee Credit element currently increases weekly income to at least £238.00 for a single person and £365.25 for a couple. Some older pensioners may also qualify for Savings Credit if they reached State Pension age before April 2016.
Passport to additional benefits
Specialists argue that the true value of Pension Credit lies in its role as a so-called "passport benefit", unlocking access to a broad range of additional financial assistance. Depending on personal circumstances, claimants could receive Housing Benefit to help pay rent, Support for Mortgage Interest loans for homeowners struggling with mortgage payments, Council Tax Reduction from their local authority, Cold Weather Payments when freezing temperatures hit, discounted water bills and broadband social tariffs, a free TV licence for households where someone is aged 75 or over and Pension Credit is claimed, free NHS dental treatment, help towards the cost of glasses and contact lenses, and assistance with travel costs for hospital appointments.
Some claimants can also receive extra Pension Credit payments if they are carers or have disabilities. The Carer Addition is currently worth £48.15 a week. Households where a pensioner is responsible for a child may also be entitled to further payments of up to £77.78 a week per child, while those arranging a funeral could be eligible for assistance towards burial or cremation costs.
Why people are missing out
The DWP identified three main reasons why people ultimately chose to make a claim: they were struggling to make ends meet on a low income; their circumstances had changed because of bereavement or ill health; or they were encouraged to claim by family, friends or an advice organisation. Which? reports that many pensioners continue to overlook the benefit because they presume that modest savings or a private pension will automatically disqualify them. In reality, a significant number of homeowners and those with some retirement income still meet the criteria for support.
