Pension credit and assessed income periods

Find out what an Assessed Income Period is and what changed on 6 April 2016.

Assessed Income Periods

An Assessed Income Period (AIP) is a period when someone receiving Pension Credit doesn’t have to advise the Northern Ireland Pension Centre about any changes to their pension, savings and investments. Your Pension Credit award letter tells you if you have one.

You may have one if you are aged 75 or over and you started getting Pension Credit before 6 April 2016.

Change from 6 April 2016

Since 6 April 2016, no new AIPs have been set.

If you are aged over 75 and have an AIP with no end date, it will stay in place until your household circumstances change, for example if you move into a care home or if you become a member of a couple.

You’ll get a letter saying your AIP has ended. From then on, you must report all changes to your circumstances, including changes to your pensions, savings or investments to the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

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Pension credit and assessed income periods

Assessed Income Periods

Change from 6 April 2016

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What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment