Pension Credit and what you might get
Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income if it’s below £163 (for single people) or £248.80 (for couples).
Savings Credit is an extra payment for people who saved some money towards their retirement, for example a pension.
You may not be eligible for Savings Credit if you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016.
You don’t pay tax on Pension Credit.
Use the Pension Credit calculator to work out how much you might get.
What you'll get
| Your circumstances | Guarantee Credit per week | Savings Credit per week |
|---|---|---|
| Single person | Top up £163 | Up to £13.40 |
| Couple | Top up £248.80 | Up to £14.99 |
Guarantee Credit
To qualify for Guarantee Credit:
- you must live in Northern Ireland
- you or your partner must have reached Pension Credit qualifying age
The qualifying age for Pension Credit is gradually going up to 66 in line with the increase in the State Pension age for women to 65 and the further increase to 66 for men and women.
To find out the age when you may be able to apply for Pension Credit, you can use the State Pension age calculator at the link below:
Savings Credit
To qualify for the extra Savings Credit you or your partner must be 65 or over.
You’re treated as a couple if you live with your husband, wife or partner. You don’t have to be married or in a civil partnership.
You can still apply for Savings Credit after 6 April 2016 if you reached State Pension age before that date.
Reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016
Most people who reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 won’t be eligible for Savings Credit.
You may continue to get Savings Credit if both of the following apply:
- you’re in a couple and one of you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016
- you were getting Savings Credit up to 6 April 2016
If you stop being eligible for Savings Credit for any reason from 6 April 2016, you won’t be able to get it again.
When to apply
You can apply up to four months before the date when you start getting Pension Credit. The 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 below, to find out the date you can start claiming Pension Credit.
The maximum period for backdating your Pension Credit application 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.
How to apply
For information about how to apply including when to apply, downloading an application form, asking for a form and applying by telephone, go to the link below:
How it's paid
'Direct payment' into an account is the Department for Communities' normal way of paying pensions and benefits. It is a safe, convenient and efficient payment method.
Income and benefits
Your income may affect how much Pension Credit you can get. Find out more about how your income may affect Pension Credit, how Pension Credit is paid and how it might affect your other benefits, on the following page:
If your circumstances change
Tell the Northern Ireland Pension Centre, Enquiry Line, if your circumstances change, so you continue to get the right amount of Pension Credit.
Changes to Assessed Income Periods (AIPs)
An AIP is a period when you don’t have to report changes to your pensions, savings or investments. Your Pension Credit award letter tells you if you have one. Read about the changes to AIPs from April 2016 below:
Pension Credit if you move abroad
You can't get Pension Credit if you move abroad permanently.
How to appeal
If you're refused Pension Credit or think it's been calculated wrongly, ask the Northern Ireland Pension Centre to take the decision again. If you're still unhappy with the outcome you can appeal to an independent Appeal Tribunal.