Amidst the Cost of living crisis, state pensioners can enjoy seven amazing freebies and discounts worth a staggering £11,352. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has informed state pension recipients about how to maximize their benefits.
Currently, the State Pension age is 66 for both genders, but this will increase gradually from 6 May 2026. Since April 2016, there have been two systems in place: the old State Pension, known as the basic State Pension, and the new State Pension.
The system that applies to you depends on whether you reached State Pension age before or after the introduction of the new system.
7 Benefits for State Pensioners in the Cost of Living Crisis
Benefit Boost - £5,644
Elderly individuals who receive specific state benefits may qualify for extra financial assistance referred to as disability premiums. These supplements are accessible to those who have reached retirement age and have a physical or mental disability, or both, that necessitates assistance with personal care or supervision for safety. It is important for this need for assistance to have been present for a minimum of six months.
To be eligible for these premiums, several requirements need to be fulfilled. Firstly, the claimant must be living in Great Britain at the time of the application and should have resided in the country for at least two out of the last three years. Exceptions apply for refugees or individuals with humanitarian protection status. Moreover, the claimant must be a customary resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands.
Additionally, applicants must not be under immigration control, unless they are a sponsored immigrant. Furthermore, they must not be receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
Pension Credit - £3,900
The pension credit is made up of two parts, with the standard minimum guarantee increasing as follows:
- Single: from £201.05 to £218.15 per week
- Couple: from £306.85 to £332.95 per week
To qualify for the standard minimum guarantee part of Pension Credit, your income must be below certain thresholds. However, exceptions exist. If you have a higher income, you might still be eligible if you have a severe disability, are a carer, or have housing costs like a mortgage.
Additionally, If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, or if you have savings or a second pension, you might be eligible for the savings credit element. This component is set to increase, with the weekly amount rising from £15.94 to £17.01 for singles, and from £17.84 to £19.04 for couples.
You can apply online at the GOV.UK website, by calling 0800 99 1234, or by completing a paper application form. Pension Credit is available to people over State Pension age who live in England, Scotland or Wales.
National Insurance Cut - £1,394
When you reach State Pension age, you no longer have to pay Class 1 National Insurance if you are employed, or Class 4 if you are self-employed.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt recently announced a 2p reduction in National Insurance (NI) contributions for both employees and the self-employed. Following a previous cut less than six months ago, this has fuelled rumours that the government may be considering eliminating the tax entirely.
The largest portion of benefits distributed from the UK’s National Insurance Fund is the state pension, with £110.2bn out of the total £115.7bn in benefits paid in 2023 being allocated to state pension payments.
Free Prescriptions - £119
All persons aged 60 and above are entitled to free prescriptions. To save money on prescriptions, people under the age of 60 could get prescription prepayment certificates from the NHS for three or twelve months. This will cover all your medications for that period, irrespective of how many you need.
The other thing is, when you hit 60 years old, it is advisable to go for an eye test because if you’re over this age mark, you have a free NHS sight test available to you; therefore, inform your optician accordingly. Also, depending on where you stand financially, there may be certain other areas in which assistance can be given to you:
- NHS dental treatment
- the cost of glasses or contact lenses
- NHS wigs and fabric supports
- travel costs to receive NHS treatment.
Discounted rail fare - £142
Railcards for seniors are specifically designed to serve the senior citizens in their travel needs. It reduces the cost of train fares by a third for persons above sixty years throughout Great Britain. You can buy the Senior Railcard for just £30 and so after a few journeys, it will have paid for itself (works out as a monthly cost of £2.50 if you pay annually). If you prefer, you can also purchase a three-year rail card at only £70, thus saving you £20 on the price of 3 one year rail cards.
In addition, if you are aged 60 and over and live in a London borough, you can travel free within London on Transport for London services and most National Rail services using your 60+ Oyster card. Further information about eligibility, benefits and how to apply is available on our web pages concerning the 60+ Oyster photocard application procedure.
Free bus pass - £128
In England, you have the ability to get a bus pass for free travel after attaining State Pension age. You are awarded an older person’s bus pass when you reach the female State Pension age of 66. It is irrelevant whether you are male or female.
Cold weather payment - £25
There is going to be a payment for you if, where you live, the average temperature hits zero degrees or below for seven days continuously. The payments amount to £25 per week and the money will be paid within 14 working days. Several Cold Weather Payments can be made to you in case there are several periods of freezing weather which occur.