About the UK Pension Credit Calculator
Pension Credit tops up the weekly income of people over State Pension age. Guarantee Credit raises your income to a minimum level — £238.00 a week for a single person and £363.25 for a couple in 2026/27 — with extra amounts if you are severely disabled, a carer, responsible for children or have certain housing costs. This calculator adds up those amounts, compares them with your assessed income, and shows your likely weekly entitlement.
Your income includes the State Pension, private and workplace pensions, most other benefits and earnings above a small disregard. Savings above £10,000 count as "tariff income" of £1 a week for every £500 (or part of £500) above that amount, and there is no upper savings limit. Savings Credit is an extra few pounds a week for people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and have some retirement income of their own.
Pension Credit is worth claiming even for small amounts: it unlocks Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Cold Weather Payments, the Winter Fuel Payment, a free TV licence at 75+ and help with NHS costs. Figures use the DWP rates from 6 April 2026; housing costs for mortgages (Support for Mortgage Interest) and disabled-child additions are not modelled.
With the default inputs, the estimated pension credit per week is £44.00. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the uk pension credit calculator
- 1Say whether you have a partner.
- 2Enter your weekly State Pension, other pensions and any earnings.
- 3Enter your savings — the first £10,000 is ignored.
- 4Add disability, carer, children and housing-cost details if they apply.
- 5Tick the box if you reached State Pension age before April 2016 to include Savings Credit.
Formula and method
Guarantee Credit (GC) is the gap between your appropriate minimum guarantee (MG) and your assessed weekly income (I). MG is the standard amount (£238.00 single, £363.25 couple in 2026/27) plus any additions: £86.05 per severely disabled person, £48.15 per carer, £69.98 per child (£81.07 for a first child born before 6 April 2017) and eligible housing costs. Income includes pensions and most benefits, earnings above £5/£10 a week, and tariff income of £1 for each £500 or part of £500 of capital above £10,000.
Savings Credit (SC) rewards people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 for having some income of their own: 60% of qualifying income above the threshold (£208.07 single, £329.75 couple), capped at £17.96 or £20.10, then reduced by 40% of any income above the minimum guarantee. This calculator treats all of your income as qualifying income, which slightly overstates Savings Credit if you get benefits such as Carer’s Allowance or contribution-based ESA.
- MG
- Appropriate minimum guarantee including additions (weekly)
- I
- Assessed weekly income including tariff income
- T
- Savings Credit threshold
- SCmax
- Maximum Savings Credit
Worked examples
Single pensioner on £190 a week with £12,000 saved
£2,000 of savings above £10,000 counts as £4 a week of income, so assessed income is £194. The single minimum guarantee is £238, so Guarantee Credit is £44 a week — about £2,288 a year.
Older single pensioner with £230 income and Savings Credit
Income of £230 is £8 short of £238, giving £8 Guarantee Credit. It is also £21.93 above the £208.07 Savings Credit threshold; 60% of that is £13.16, under the £17.96 cap and with no reduction because income is below the guarantee.
Couple on £400 a week, Savings Credit only
The couple’s income is above £363.25, so there is no Guarantee Credit. Savings Credit starts at the £20.10 maximum (60% of £70.25 is higher) and is reduced by 40% of the £36.75 excess (£14.70), leaving £5.40 a week — still enough to unlock other help.
Couple with a severe disability and a carer
The severe disability addition (£86.05) and carer addition (£48.15) raise the couple’s minimum guarantee to £497.45. With £380 of income they would get £117.45 a week of Guarantee Credit.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Pension Credit in 2026/27?+
Guarantee Credit tops your weekly income up to £238.00 if you are single or £363.25 for a couple, from April 2026. Extra amounts are added for severe disability (£86.05), caring (£48.15), children and some housing costs.
Is there a savings limit for Pension Credit?+
No. There is no upper capital limit, but savings above £10,000 are treated as producing £1 a week of income for every £500 or part of £500. Someone with £20,000 saved is treated as having £20 a week of extra income.
Who can get Savings Credit?+
Only people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 — or couples where at least one partner did. It is worth up to £17.96 a week for a single person and £20.10 for a couple in 2026/27.
Why claim Pension Credit if it is only a few pounds?+
Any award of Pension Credit passports you to other help: maximum Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction, Cold Weather Payments, the Winter Fuel Payment, a free TV licence if you are 75 or over, and free NHS dental treatment and glasses with Guarantee Credit.
What counts as income for Pension Credit?+
State Pension, private and workplace pensions, most benefits (such as Carer’s Allowance), earnings above £5 a week (£10 for couples) and tariff income from savings. Attendance Allowance, PIP, DLA and Housing Benefit are ignored.
Can I get Pension Credit if I own my home?+
Yes. Your home is not counted as savings, and you may get help with ground rent, service charges or a loan for mortgage interest (Support for Mortgage Interest) on top of Guarantee Credit.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.