Your Pension Credit questionnaire

This takes about 20 minutes. Pension Credit is different from the others — it's not about your health, it's about your income and savings. So these questions are mostly figures.

Please don't rule yourself out. Hundreds of thousands of pensioners who are entitled to Pension Credit never claim it, usually because they assume they have "too much". People are wrong about this constantly — savings don't automatically disqualify you, owning your home doesn't disqualify you, and having a small private pension doesn't either. Give us your figures and let us do the sums.

Pension Credit is a gateway. Even £1 a week of it can unlock: Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, free NHS dental treatment and glasses, help with heating costs, a free TV licence if you're over 75, and the Warm Home Discount. That's why it's worth claiming even when the amount looks small.

About you

Full name Date of birth National Insurance number Address including postcode Phone number Email Do you have a partner who lives with you?

If you have a partner, both of you normally need to be over State Pension age to claim Pension Credit. We'll check this and advise if not.

If you have a partner: their name, date of birth and NI number

Your income

Weekly or monthly amounts are both fine — just tell us which. Rough figures are OK at this stage; we'll firm them up together.

State Pension — how much, and how often? Private or workplace pensions (all of them) Earnings from any work (yours and your partner's) Other benefits you receive

Good news: Attendance Allowance, PIP and DLA are not counted as income for Pension Credit — and having them can actually increase what you get.

Any other income? (rent from a lodger, annuities, maintenance, anything else)

Your savings and property

The bit everyone gets wrong: the first £10,000 of savings is ignored completely. Above that, only a small assumed income is counted — not the savings themselves. And the home you live in is never counted. Please don't talk yourself out of claiming.

Total savings and investments (yours and your partner's combined) Roughly what's included in that? (bank accounts, ISAs, premium bonds, shares) Do you own your home? Do you own any other property or land? Have you given away money or property in recent years?

Your circumstances

These can significantly increase what you're entitled to — please don't skip them.

If you rent, how much is your rent per week or month? Your Council Tax band and monthly amount (if you know it) Do you have a mortgage or service charges? Bank account details for payments (sort code and account number)

Anything else?

Send your answers

We'll work out what you're entitled to, check whether you also qualify for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, and be in touch — usually within one working day.

Backdating: Pension Credit can usually be backdated 3 months, so claiming sooner is real money. We'll always request the maximum backdating you're entitled to.

Not comfortable typing financial details online? That's completely understandable — send just your name and number and we'll take the rest by phone.