Pension Credit Calculator

The “Gateway” Benefit: Why 800,000 Pensioners Are Missing Out on £3,000 a Year (Plus Winter Fuel)

There is a strange anomaly in the UK benefits system. Usually, the government tries to reduce the number of people claiming money. But with Pension Credit, the government is actively begging people to apply.

Why? Because an estimated 800,000 eligible pensioners are failing to claim it.

This mistake is costing them a lot more than just a weekly top-up. Pension Credit is known as the “Gateway Benefit.” If you claim just £1 of Pension Credit, you magically unlock a treasure trove of other support, including the £200-£300 Winter Fuel Payment, free TV licenses (for over 75s), Housing Benefit, and Council Tax reductions.

We built the Pension Credit Calculator (above) to help families check eligibility in seconds. It strips away the complex DWP forms and gives you a simple answer: Are you owed money?

What is Pension Credit?

It is not a “pension” in the traditional sense. It is an income top-up.

The government sets a “Standard Minimum Guarantee.” For 2024/25, this is:

• £218.15 per week for single pensioners.
• £332.95 per week for couples.

If your weekly income (State Pension + Private Pension + Savings interest) is below this number, the government tops you up to meet it.

The “Savings” Myth: Many pensioners don’t apply because they have savings. They think, “I have £15,000 in the bank, I won’t qualify.” Wrong. Unlike Universal Credit, there is no hard savings limit.

• The first £10,000 of savings is ignored completely.
• Above £10k, they assume a “tariff income” of £1 per week for every £500.
• Example: If you have £12,000, they assume you have an income of £4/week. If your pension is low enough, you can still claim!

How to Use the Calculator

This tool acts as a “Gateway Check” for you or your elderly parents.

Step 1: The Income Audit (Tab 1 & 2)

• Select Single or Couple.
• Enter the Total Weekly Income. This includes the State Pension and any private pensions.
• Do NOT include: Attendance Allowance or PIP. These are “disregarded” and do not count as income for Pension Credit.

Step 2: The Savings Check (Tab 2)

• Enter the total savings amount.
• Watch the Math: The calculator automatically applies the “£10k Rule,” calculating the tariff income for you.

Step 3: The “Additions” (Tab 3) This is where the payout often doubles.

• Severe Disability: If you receive Attendance Allowance and live alone (no one claims Carer’s Allowance for you), your Guarantee limit increases by £81.50 a week.
• Carer: If you care for someone else, it increases by £45.60.
• Select these boxes to see the “Guarantee Limit” bar on the chart jump up, widening the gap and increasing your payment.

The Result: The Green Badge

Hit “Check Entitlement.” If you see a positive number in the “Estimated Weekly Top-Up” box, you will also see a green box appear: “Passport Benefits Unlocked!”

This is the most important part of the result. Even if the top-up is only 50p a week, that 50p acts as the key to keeping the Winter Fuel Payment and accessing free dental care.

The Verdict

Pension Credit is the most under-claimed benefit in the UK. It is not charity; it is a statutory right designed to ensure no pensioner falls below a minimum income standard.

If you have parents or grandparents on a low income, run the numbers for them today. It takes 2 minutes, and it could secure their financial comfort for the rest of their lives.