REACHING the State Pension age (currently 66) grants you access to your State Pension, which is worth up to £11,502.40 annually if you qualify for the full amount.
But not everyone knows that you can boost your income significantly through a range of additional benefits and discounts for older people.
These perks can help ease the cost of living, offering savings on everything from energy bills and public transport to healthcare and council tax.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to the freebies and discounts available for pensioners this January.
Pension Credit is a critical, but widely under-claimed, benefit designed to top up the income of pensioners on lower earnings.
The top Pension Credit award is worth over £3,900 per year and it opens doors to other support, including the Winter Fuel Payment, help with housing costs, council tax and heating bills.
It guarantees a minimum income of £218.15 a week for single pensioners and £332.95 for couples, and this figure is due to rise from April next year.
If you have caring responsibilities or a disability, you might get more.
There are around 880,000 households across the UK eligible for Pension Credit who are yet to claim, and the government has urged people to check whether they or their loved ones should be getting this support.
If you think you will qualify, the benefit can be backdated for up to three months.
If you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, and have savings or a private pension, you may qualify for the Savings Credit portion of Pension Credit.
This can pay up to £17.01 weekly for singles and £19.04 for couples which is £884.52 or £990.08 a year.
Unlike with Guarantee Credit, you don’t need a particularly low income to qualify, so it’s worth investigating.
Pensioners who choose to keep working beyond state pension age benefit from being exempt from National Insurance contributions.
This can mean hefty savings. For example, someone earning the average UK salary of £35,724 could save £1,851.20 annually in National Insurance payments.
That works out at just over £154 a month.
This exemption can significantly increase your take-home pay and may make working beyond retirement age more attractive, particularly as delaying gives you more time to build up pension savings for a comfortable retirement.
Once you turn 60, prescriptions are free across England, Scotland, and Wales.
This can save you up to £114.50 annually if you require regular prescriptions, based on the cost of an annual prepayment certificate.
If you or your partner claim the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit, you’re entitled to free NHS dental care.
Depending on the treatment needed, this could save you anywhere from £26.80 for a routine check-up to £319.10 for more extensive dental work like crowns or dentures.
Be sure to tell your dentist about your eligibility before receiving treatment.
All over-60s qualify for free NHS eye tests, which typically cost between £20 and £25.
If you claim Guarantee Credit, you may also qualify for help with the cost of glasses or contact lenses.
Regular eye tests can catch early signs of eye problems, so it’s worth making sure you have a check up at least once a year.
Pensioners aged 75 and older who get Pension Credit also get a free TV license.
The full annual cost is £169.50 for a colour licence, but if you meet the eligibility criteria, you could enjoy your favourite shows at no cost.
Black and white licenses normally cost just £57.
You’ll also qualify if your partner who you live with receives Pension Credit.
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Pensioners on low incomes or who get the Guarantee part of Pension Credit may qualify for a reduction in their council tax bill, with some eligible for a 100% discount.
For those in a Band D property, this would save £2,171 on average which works out as about £180.92 in January alone.
Even if you don’t receive Pension Credit, your local council may offer reductions based on your income and savings, so it’s worth contacting them directly.
Once you reach state pension age, you’re eligible for free bus travel across the UK.
In London and Wales, free bus passes are available from age 60.
To apply, visit the GOV.UK website and enter your postcode to find your local scheme.
Bus fares in 2022 cost £19.37 for a weekly ticket, which would give you savings of around £81.17 for the month.
For just £30 a year, the Senior Railcard offers a third off train fares.
The average cardholder saves £96 annually, making it a worthwhile investment for anyone who travels by rail.
Buying a three-year card for £70 instead of renewing annually could save you even more.
Many broadband providers offer discounted social tariffs for those on low income.
Some have broad eligibility criteria, while others say you need to be on certain benefits such as Pension Credit.
These plans often cost as little as £14.99 per month, compared to the average broadband cost of £26.90 per month, and they usually include line rental too.
Over the year, this could save you £142.92.
For every seven-day period when temperatures drop below 0°C, people on certain benefits including Pension Credit receive £25.
This payment is automatic and helps cover additional heating costs during harsh winter weather.
While the exact savings depend on your location, it can add up in colder regions.
The maximum you could get in January is £100, if the whole month was sub-zero.
The Warm Home Discount is a £150 reduction on your energy bill, available to Pension Credit recipients.
If you’re eligible, the discount is applied automatically. If you don’t receive confirmation by January, contact the scheme to ensure you don’t miss out.
Even if you don’t get Pension Credit, you could still be eligible if you’re on a low income and have unusually high energy bills, for instance if someone in the household has a disability.
Many water providers offer social tariffs for pensioners on low incomes, reducing bills by a significant amount.
Contact your water supplier to see if you qualify for these discounts, which can vary by region.
15. Claim everything you’re entitled to
To take full advantage of these perks, ensure you’ve applied for any benefits you’re eligible for, especially Pension Credit.
Many of these discounts – such as the free TV licence and Warm Home Discount – are linked to the other benefits you receive.
If you’re struggling, you should always contact your local council, utility providers, and healthcare services to ask what help is available, as many have grants and schemes to help in emergencies.
AT the moment the current state pension is paid to both men and women from age 66 - but it's due to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046.
The state pension is a recurring payment from the government most Brits start getting when they reach State Pension age.
But not everyone gets the same amount, and you are awarded depending on your National Insurance record.
For most pensioners, it forms only part of their retirement income, as they could have other pots from a workplace pension, earning and savings.
The new state pension is based on people’s National Insurance records.
Workers must have 35 qualifying years of National Insurance to get the maximum amount of the new state pension.
You earn National Insurance qualifying years through work, or by getting credits, for instance when you are looking after children and claiming child benefit.
If you have gaps, you can top up your record by paying in voluntary National Insurance contributions.
To get the old, full basic state pension, you will need 30 years of contributions or credits.
You will need at least 10 years on your NI record to get any state pension.
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