Applying for Pension Credit

The Department for Communities is sending out this letter to alert people they may be missing out on Pension Credit.

When to apply

You can apply up to four months before the date when you start getting Pension Credit. Pension Credit qualifying age is gradually increasing in line with the increase in women's State Pension age. You can use the State Pension age calculator to find out the date you can start claiming Pension Credit.

The maximum period for backdating your Pension Credit claim is three months.

If you want Pension Credit to start on a past or future date, you need to tell the Northern Ireland Pension Centre when you apply.

• Calculating your State Pension age

Download a form

When you reach the qualifying age, you can apply for Pension Credit:

• Pension Credit Application Form

You can download, print and complete a claim form.  When the form is complete, you can do either of the following:

• post it to the office shown on the form
• hand it in at your nearest Social Security/Jobs and Benefits office
• Jobs & Benefits offices

To calculate your payment, the Social Security Agency uses the date they received your form, not the date you downloaded the claim form.

Ask for a form

You can get Pension Credit forms from the Social Security Agency.  Contact one of their offices.

• Northern Ireland Pension Centre  - Pension Credit
• Jobs & Benefits offices

Claim by telephone

To make a claim, telephone the Northern Ireland Pension Centre  Application Line. Calls are free and the form will be completed for you.

• Northern Ireland Pension Centre application line (for new Pension Credit applications)

Housing Benefit, Rate Relief or help with mortgage interest payments

The Northern Ireland Pension Centre can also help you apply for Housing Benefit at the same time as your application for Pension Credit.

• An introduction to Housing Benefit Rate Relief for homeowners

Or you may qualify for help with your mortgage interest payments:

• Getting help to make your mortgage interest payments