Pension-age support hub
Pension-age support works differently from working-age benefits. Pension Credit, winter support, council tax help and pension-age examples are closely linked, so this hub is designed to help older households move through them as one joined-up journey.
Best place to start
Use the main estimator first, then move into the worked examples and explainers that match the change you are trying to understand.
Key facts for 2026/27
- › Guarantee Credit standard minimum: £238.00/week single, £363.25/week couple
- › Savings under £10,000 are ignored for Pension Credit
- › Savings above £10,000 create £1/week assumed income for each £500
- › Even a small Pension Credit award can unlock wider support
- › Winter support and council tax help often matter as much as the weekly top-up
- › Home ownership does not automatically rule out Pension Credit
Tools for this topic
Free Pension Credit calculator 2026/27 UK
Free Pension Credit calculator for 2026/27. Estimate weekly top-ups using income, savings and key additions, including the £10,000 savings disregard.
Winter Fuel Payment checker
Check age, location and income assumptions against the current Winter Fuel Payment rules.
Cold Weather Payment checker
Estimate Cold Weather Payments using qualifying-benefit assumptions and the number of triggered cold spells in your area.
Council Tax Reduction estimator
Free Council Tax Reduction calculator for 2026/27: estimate help from your bill, income, benefits and savings. Each council sets its own scheme, so check yours.
Housing Benefit estimator
Check whether a legacy Housing Benefit case may still qualify using weekly rent, income, savings and pension-age status.
Plain-English guides
Pension Credit explained 2026/27, savings rules, rates and eligibility
Who qualifies for Pension Credit in 2026/27: State Pension age, living in Great Britain and weekly income under £238 (single) or £363.25 (couple). Savings, extras and how to claim.
What Pension Credit unlocks
Even a £1-a-week Pension Credit award unlocks Council Tax Reduction, a free TV licence over 75, NHS cost help and £25 Cold Weather Payments in 2026/27. The Winter Fuel Payment no longer depends on it.
Pension Credit examples for a single pensioner
Worked Pension Credit examples for a single pensioner in 2026/27: income of £210 a week is topped up by £28.00 to reach the £238.00 guarantee, plus how savings change it.
Pension Credit examples for a couple
Worked Pension Credit examples for a couple in 2026/27: joint income of £320 a week is topped up by £43.25 to reach the £363.25 guarantee, plus how savings change it.
How Much Savings Can You Have on Universal Credit? 2026/27 Rules
Savings rules for UK benefits 2026/27: UC ignores savings below £6,000. Between £6,000 and £16,000 your award is reduced by £4.35/month per £250 over the threshold. Over £16,000, UC stops. Pension Credit uses a more lenient £10,000 disregard. PIP and Child Benefit are unaffected by savings.
Best next reads
Use these follow-up pages to move from the main estimate into worked examples, explanations and the questions that change awards most often.
