Some 8.8m retirees will receive up to \u00a3739 every pay period in the 2026\/27 financial year through the Basic State Pension. For anyone approaching the official age of retirement <\/a>– which has now risen to 67 – it’s important to be aware of certain benefits you can claim from the DWP plus discounts on Council Tax, help with heating costs and more.<\/p>\n Similarly, those already receiving State Pension payments<\/a> may not be aware of more than a dozen ways they might be able to boost their current income over the next few months.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Check if DWP State Pension age rise to 67 affects your retirement plans this year<\/a>READ MORE: DWP confirms start date for tax on State Pension payments<\/a><\/p>\n Pension Credit is worth \u00a34,300 a year on average and currently takes around 50 working days to process, which would see first payments for successful claimants made thsi month arrive before the end of June.<\/p>\n To make it easier for people to understand and claim these benefits, discounts or reductions, the MoneyHelper website<\/a> has compiled a comprehensive list along with quick eligibility checks to ensure older people are accessing essential support in later life.<\/p>\n The easiest way to check eligibility for any benefit, discount or reduction is to use an online benefits calculator – find out more about these here.<\/a><\/p>\n If you have an older family member or friends who do not have access to the internet, or is not familiar with using a computer, give them a hand to ensure they are not missing out on additional financial support<\/a> in 2026.<\/p>\n Benefits for people over State Pension age<\/p>\n Benefits and discounts available in retirement include:<\/p>\n State PensionPension CreditHelp with Council TaxHelp with heating costs – eligibility for some may require a relevant qualifying means-tested benefitHealth benefits – Attendance Allowance, Pension Age Disability PaymentTravel and TV benefitsBenefits for war widows and widowersState Pension<\/p>\n The State Pension gives you a regular taxable income for the rest of your life as soon as you reach State Pension age and make a claim for it. Some people choose to defer this while they continue to work.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not means-tested, but the amount you get depends on how many qualifying years of National Insurance Contributions or credits you\u2019ve built up. You need at least 10 years’ for any State Pension payment and around 35 for the maximum amount – this may be more for people who were ‘contracted out’, find out more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n New State Pension payment rates 2026\/27<\/p>\n Full New State Pension<\/p>\n Weekly: \u00a3241.30 (from \u00a3230.25)Four-weekly pay period: \u00a3965.20Annual amount: \u00a312,547<\/p>\n Full Basic State Pension<\/p>\n Weekly: \u00a3184.90 (from \u00a3176.45)Four-weekly pay period: \u00a3739.60Annual amount: \u00a39,614Pension Credit<\/p>\n Pension Credit currently gives 1.4m people across the UK – including over 125,000 in Scotland – extra money to help with living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income. It is a \u2018passport\u2019 benefit providing on average around \u00a34,300 this year in financial support, acting as a \u2018gateway\u2019 to Council Tax discounts, help with housing costs and NHS discounts along with free TV Licences for the over-75s.<\/p>\n Try the Pension Credit Calculator on GOV.UK<\/a> for yourself or a family member to make sure you\u2019re receiving all the financial support you are entitled to. You can also call the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234.<\/p>\n \u201cI have savings so I won\u2019t qualify.\u201d<\/p>\n Savings over \u00a310,000 are taken into account, but many people with modest savings still qualify.<\/p>\n \u201cI own my home so I\u2019m not eligible.\u201d<\/p>\n Home ownership does not automatically disqualify you.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a small private pension so I\u2019ll be refused.\u201d<\/p>\n Pension Credit tops up income \u2014 even small occupational pensions can still leave you eligible.<\/p>\n \u201cThe amount would be too small to bother.\u201d<\/p>\n Even a small award can unlock help with housing costs, council tax and energy bills.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s too complicated to apply.\u201d<\/p>\n Help with Council Tax<\/p>\n Whether you own your home or rent, you could be eligible for support from your local authority to help you pay your Council Tax. Contact your local council to ask about support with Council Tax – find out more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Insulation and heating schemes<\/p>\n There are a number of schemes that install insulation and heating improvements to make your home more energy efficient. You\u2019re likely to be eligible if your home is poorly insulated or doesn\u2019t have a working central heating system, and if you receive any of a range of income-related benefits including Pension Credit.<\/p>\n Find out more from Home Energy Scotland here<\/a> or by calling 0808 808 2282.<\/p>\n Health benefits<\/p>\n Everyone in Scotland is entitled to free prescriptions. Find out more about free dental treatment and refunds for travel to hospital appointments here.<\/a><\/p>\n Disability and care benefits<\/p>\n A number of benefits are available to people who have disabilities, long-term health conditions or specific care needs.<\/p>\n These benefits include:<\/p>\n Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – if you\u2019re under State Pension age, if you reached State Pension age while claiming PIP this will continueAdult Disability Payment – replacing PIP for people living in ScotlandDisability Living Allowance (DLA) – you will need to have been already claiming this before you reached State Pension ageAttendance Allowance – if you\u2019re over State Pension age and have not claimed DLA or PIPPension Age Disability Payment (PADP) – a new benefit that has replaced Attendance Allowance in Scotland. Find out more here.<\/a><\/p>\n We have dedicated sections on the Daily Record website for each of these benefits:<\/p>\n Travel concessions<\/p>\n If you are over 60 or disabled find out about travel concessions on the Transport Scotland website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Free passport<\/p>\n If you were born on or before September 2, 1929, and are a British national, you could be eligible for a free passport. Find out more and how to apply on the GOV.UK website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Free \/ Discounted TV Licence<\/p>\n You now have to pay for your TV licence unless you are getting Pension Credit. People over State Pension age may be able to get the TV Licence for half price if they are registered as severely sight-impaired or blind.<\/p>\n Check out the MoneyHelper Advice Service TV licence guide<\/a> here to find out if you\u2019re eligible.<\/p>\n Benefits for war widows and widowers<\/p>\n If your husband, wife or civil partner died or were injured or became ill as a result of their service in Her Majesty\u2019s (HM) Armed Forces, or during a time of war before April 6, 2005, you might be entitled to a War Widow\u2019s or Widower\u2019s Pension.<\/a><\/p>\n If they died or sustained an injury or illness due to serving in a conflict after April 6, 2005, you might be entitled to compensation through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme<\/a>.<\/p>\n Find out more about War widows and widowers\u2019 pensions and compensation on the GOV.UK website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Medical costs for war pensioners<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n War Disablement Pension<\/p>\n If you were injured or disabled while serving in the Armed Forces before April 6, 2005, you can get extra help towards your pension. Find out more about War Disablement Pension on the GOV.UK website here .<\/a><\/p>\n Age Scotland also have a full list of benefits, discounts and support older people may be entitled to claim, find out more on their website here.<\/a><\/p>\n Join the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group<\/a> for money-saving tips, the latest State Pension and benefits news, energy bill advice and cost of living updates.<\/p>\n Sign up to our Record Money newsletter and get the top stories sent to your inbox daily from Monday to Friday with a special cost of living edition every Thursday – sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Recordmoney_<\/a> for regular updates throughout the day or get money news alerts on your phone by joining our Daily Record Money WhatsApp community<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/10_Screen-Shot-2020-07-22-at-132843.png\")
Pension Credit – common myths<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_DR-MOney.png\")
Get the latest Record Money news<\/p>\n