Many pensioners are failing to claim the benefits they’re entitled to. Don’t miss out on your money – here’s a list of benefits you could potentially claim and how to find out if you’re eligible.

State Pension

The State Pension gives you a regular taxable income for the rest of your life – as soon as you reach State Pension age. It’s not means-tested, but the amount you get depends on how many qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits you’ve built up.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit is for people who are on a low income. It’s designed to top up a pensioner’s income to a guaranteed minimum level. Many people entitled to Pension Credit don’t claim it. So make sure you find out whether you qualify – and don’t miss out if you are.

Help with Council Tax

Whether you own your home or rent, you could qualify for support from your local authority (or the Welsh and Scottish Governments) to help you pay your Council Tax. Contact your local council to ask about support with Council Tax.

Help with Rates in Northern Ireland

Domestic rates for residential properties are based on the value of your home on 1 January 2005. Bills and payments are dealt with by the Land and Property Services (LPS) office.

If you’re on a low income, you might be entitled to rate relief. There are also allowances for lone pensioners (people living alone aged 70 or over) and disabled people.

Help with heating costs

Winter Fuel Payment 2025

This is a tax-free payment of up to £300 to help people born on or before 25 September 1958 keep warm during winter. Some people call it the winter fuel allowance.

You'll only get the Winter Fuel Payment (worth up to £300) if:

• you’re above State Pension age, and

• claiming a means-tested benefit like Pension Credit or Universal Credit.  

Use our Benefits calculator to quickly check if you're eligible for any benefits or grants. 

If you live in Northern Ireland

You’ll only get the Winter Fuel Payment if you’re above State Pension age and claiming a means-tested benefit.

If you live in Scotland you’ll get an equivalent payment of up to £300 called the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment if you're eligible. The payment will be automatic, meaning you don’t have to make a claim. You’ll receive a letter containing details of your payment. 

Find out more about the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment on mygov.scot.

The amount you get depends on your age and who lives in your household. If you’ve had the payment before, you should get it again without having to claim, if you meet the criteria. 

You should also get it automatically if you meet the age and residence criteria and get Pension Credit or Universal Credit.

If you qualify, you will receive a letter in October or November confirming how much money you can expect. If you applied for Pension Credit later and are eligible, you’ll get your payment later. If you live with someone, only one of you will get the payment even if you’re both eligible.

The letter will also explain how you can update any incorrect information, such as your bank details.

Roughly three weeks after you get the letter – for most people this will be November or December – the Winter Fuel Payment will be paid into your chosen bank account.

The payment reference on your bank statement will be ‘DWP Winter Fuel’.

Cold Weather Payment

These £25 payments are made when your local temperature is either recorded as, or forecast to be, an average of zero degrees Celsius, or below, over 7 consecutive days between 1 November and 31 March each year.

If you qualify for any of a range of other income-related benefits, including Pension Credit, you’ll qualify for Cold Weather Payments. There’s no need to apply for it. If you qualify, it will be paid automatically.

Warm Homes Discount scheme

In England, Scotland and Wales, certain people on a low income and getting means-tested benefits can get a £150 discount on their winter electricity bill – called the Warm Home Discount. 

Your supplier should give you the discount automatically between October and March if you receive pension credit or other eligible benefits. You only need to apply to your energy company if you're on a low income in Scotland. If you were expecting a discount but haven’t received one, get in touch with your supplier.

In Northern Ireland you might be able to claim help to make your home more energy efficient.

Insulation and heating schemes

There are many schemes that install insulation and heating improvements to make your home more energy efficient.

You’re likely to qualify if your home is poorly insulated or doesn’t have a working central heating system, and if you receive any of a range of income-related benefits – including Pension Credit.

You might also be able to apply for a grant to make your home more energy efficient. 

Health benefits

In England, everyone aged over 60 gets free prescriptions and eye tests. You might also qualify for help towards:

• dental treatment
• travel costs to hospital
• glasses or contact lenses.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, everyone is entitled to free prescriptions.

Disability and care benefits

There are benefits for people who have disabilities, or specific care needs. These benefits include Disability Living Allowance, which is gradually being replaced by Personal Independence Payment if you’re under State Pension age and Attendance Allowance if you’re over State Pension age.

Travel and TV benefits

Bus passes

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you qualify for a free bus pass when you’re 60 or over. In England, you qualify when you reach State Pension age. If you live in a London borough and are over 60, you qualify for a free travel Oyster photocard.

Travel concessions

If you’re over 60 or disabled, find out about the travel concessions below and go to:

• GOV.UK for free bus travel for older people in England
• GOV.UK for free bus travel for disabled people in England
• Transport for London for Oyster photocard for over 60s in London
• Transport Scotland for concessionary travel in Scotland
• Transport for Wales for concessionary travel in Wales
• nidirect for free bus travel and concessions in Northern Ireland

Free passport

If you were born on or before 2 September 1929 and are a British national, you could qualify for a free passport.You’ll need a full ten-year passport if you want to travel abroad, even if it’s for just a day.

Free TV licence

If you or your partner are aged 75 or over and get Pension Credit you can get a free TV licence. If not, you have to pay for it.

Benefits for war widows or widowers

If your husband, wife or civil partner died or was injured or became ill because of their service in His Majesty’s (HM) Armed Forces, or during a time of war before 6 April 2005, then you might be entitled to a War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension.

If they died or sustained an injury or illness due to serving in a conflict on or after 6 April 2005, you might be entitled to compensation through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

Medical costs for war pensioners

If you need medical treatment because you were disabled while serving in the Armed Forces, you could get help towards your medical costs for your accepted disability.

War Disablement Pension

If you were injured or disabled while serving in the Armed Forces before 6 April 2005, you can get extra help towards your pension.

Use an online benefit calculator

Using our Benefits calculator is a good way to:

• check which benefits you might be entitled to
• estimate the amounts you might be able to claim
• show how the estimates would change if your circumstances changed.

The tool will ask you for anonymous information about your savings and income, as well as your spending on things such as rent, mortgage or childcare payments.