So if you’re looking for ways to boost your income in 2026 ahead of the State Pension<\/a> uprating in April, it’s worth checking your entitlement for Pension Credit<\/a> as this DWP benefit can unlock a swathe of freebies and discounts that are worth around \u00a314.139.20 on average.<\/p>\n Pension Credit acts as a gateway to a wealth of other financial support (Image: Getty)<\/p>\n READ MORE: State pensioners urged to check bank statements for DWP code <\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: HMRC says boost State Pension payments with \u00a326 a week claim <\/a><\/p>\n Pension Credit provides pensioners on a low income with extra money to help with living costs and according to the DWP<\/a> it’s worth over \u00a33,900 per year. But it also opens the doors to a wealth of other financial support, including the Winter Fuel Payment<\/a>, Council Tax discount and help with heating bills, so it\u2019s well worth checking if you qualify.<\/p>\n Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist at Royal London, said: \u201cPension Credit is a valuable benefit because it is a \u2018gateway\u2019 benefit. That means, if you\u2019re able to claim it, you may also be able to get help with housing costs (through Council Tax discount and Housing Benefit or Support for Mortgage<\/a> Interest).<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re also eligible for a free TV licence if you\u2019re aged 75 or over and you may be able to get help with NHS dental treatment, prescriptions and transport costs.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re entitled to these benefits, the state help you get could be very valuable and that could make a real difference to your finances. However, hundreds of thousands of people are missing out on Pension Credit. Our research showed that two in five people over State Pension age hadn’t checked to see if they were entitled to Pension Credit.\u201d<\/p>\n So if you\u2019re in need of a financial boost this month, it\u2019s worth checking your eligibility for Pension Credit \u2013 plus one other DWP<\/a> benefit \u2013 as it could unlock up to \u00a314,139.20 worth of financial support. Listed are 12 freebies and discounts pensioners could claim in March.<\/p>\n *** Ensure our latest personal finance headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate<\/a> or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***<\/p>\n Pension Credit – \u00a33,900<\/p>\n Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to \u00a3227.10 if you\u2019re single or your joint weekly income to \u00a3346.60 if you have a partner. You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached State Pension<\/a> age to qualify for Pension Credit, and it is worth over \u00a33,900 per year on average according to the DWP<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you are entitled to Pension Credit, the benefit also unlocks a wealth of other freebies and discounts which means you could also get the following:<\/p>\n Housing Benefit – \u00a31,000<\/p>\n If you rent your home and you get the Guarantee element of Pension Credit then you\u2019re eligible for the maximum Housing Benefit entitlement from your local council. This isn\u2019t a fixed amount, but Martin Lewis\u2019 MSE says you could get around \u00a31,000 per year, and potentially have your rent paid in full.<\/p>\n Free TV Licence – \u00a3174.50<\/p>\n Anyone aged 75 and over and claiming Pension Credit can get \u00a3174.50 off their TV Licence bill, cutting it down to \u00a30. The fee is also due to rise to \u00a3180 per year from April 1, amounting to an annual increase of \u00a35.50, so it’s worth checking if you can get it for free.<\/p>\n Heating bills discount – \u00a3150<\/p>\n Pension Credit entitles you to help with heating costs through the Warm Home Discount scheme, which knocks \u00a3150 off your electricity bill.<\/p>\n Households in England or Wales will qualify if they are the named billpayer on their energy bill, and receive any of the following means-tested benefits:<\/p>\n Housing BenefitIncome-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)Income SupportPension CreditUniversal Credit<\/p>\n If you live in England or Wales, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill automatically. If you live in Scotland, energy suppliers set the criteria for the scheme so households should contact their supplier to check their eligibility.<\/p>\n If you qualify, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by March 31, 2026, so you\u2019ll receive the energy bill support before April.<\/p>\n Council Tax discount – \u00a31,600<\/p>\n Pension Credit claimants can get a Council Tax discount. The exact amount you\u2019ll get depends on your local council, but it can be anything from around \u00a3300 for a 25% reduction on a typical Band D bill up to around \u00a31,600 for a 100% discount.<\/p>\n Winter Fuel Payment – up to \u00a3300<\/p>\n Pension Credit claimants are also eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment<\/a> which is worth between \u00a3100 and \u00a3300. The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying week between September 15 and 21, 2025.<\/p>\n Most pensioners who are eligible should have received their payment automtically in November or December, but it’s possible some may receive their payment slightly later.<\/p>\n The DWP says anyone who hasn\u2019t received a letter about the payment, or the money hasn\u2019t been paid into their account by January 28, 2026, should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. The deadline to make a claim for winter 2025 to 2026 is March 31, 2026.<\/p>\n Free NHS prescriptions – \u00a39.90<\/p>\n Claiming Pension Credit will also entitle you to free NHS prescriptions, which currently cost \u00a39.90 per item in England.<\/p>\n Free eye care – up to \u00a3215<\/p>\n If you get any of the Guarantee element of Pension Credit then you are entitled to help with NHS eye care, including a voucher for glasses or contact lenses. According to Martin Lewis\u2019 MSE, this could be worth up to \u00a3215, depending on your prescription.<\/p>\n Free NHS dental treatment – up to \u00a31,000<\/p>\n Pensioners who qualify for the Guarantee element of Pension Credit are also entitled to free NHS dental treatment, including anything from a simple check up to full dentures. According to Martin Lewis\u2019 MSE, this could amount to up to \u00a31,000 worth of free treatment per year.<\/p>\n Cold Weather Payment – \u00a325<\/p>\n If the temperature where you live drops to 0C or below for seven consecutive days, you\u2019ll be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment. This is automatic if you\u2019re on an eligible benefit such as Pension Credit, Income Support or Universal Credit.<\/p>\n The DWP will issue the payment to eligible households between now and March 31, 2026, so it\u2019s possible more payments will be triggered before then if another bout of freezing weather strikes.<\/p>\n Royal Mail redirection discount – \u00a324<\/p>\n Pension Credit claimants are entitled to a discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you\u2019re moving house. The service normally costs \u00a384, but you\u2019ll only have to pay \u00a360 – giving you a saving of \u00a324.<\/p>\n You can start an application for Pension Credit up to four months before you reach State Pension<\/a> age – which is 66 for both men and women – and any time after, but your application can only be backdated by three months. You can apply online via GOV.UK or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.<\/p>\n Attendance Allowance – up to \u00a35,740.80<\/p>\n![\"Senior](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/senior-woman-taking-bank-notes-from-her-wallet-6768789.jpg\" "\\"Senior")
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