You could be missing out on over £4,000 of free stuff for over 60s

Telegraph

20-05-2025

Budgets are being stretched to the extreme this year, with inflation at heights not seen in a generation. The pound in your pocket is now worth much less – which makes it all the more important to make sure that you are getting all the support you are owed.
There is a lot of support available for pensioners, ranging from government benefits to company freebies and discounts.
Using all the help available could help you save hundreds of pounds a year, if not more – but not all perks are given automatically, so it's all too easy to miss out.
Here, Telegraph Money sets out the essential money-saving tips every retiree should know.
NHS freebies
Once you hit 60, you are entitled to free NHS medical prescriptions in England (prescriptions are free in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), which usually cost £9.90 for each medicine or appliance dispensed. If your date of birth is printed electronically on your prescription, then you should not need to provide any other evidence that you don't need to pay.
Over 60s can also get free eye tests in England, which can start from around £25. You'll usually need to fill out some NHS forms for your optician when you reach 60 to ensure you no longer get charged for future tests.
If you're receiving the 'guarantee credit' part of pension credit (more on this later), then you are also entitled to free NHS dental treatment, which could save around £27.50 every time you go for a scale and polish, according to the NHS.
This element of pension credit can also enable you to claim help with travel costs if you need to go to hospital for NHS treatment or diagnostic tests – but you must first tell the hospital that you want to claim back the cost of your journey, and it will help you with the next steps.
The annual flu jab is also free once you hit 65, which you'd otherwise have to pay for privately. If you are under this age, then the flu jab is only free if you have a long-term health condition that puts you at risk of complications if you catch the flu, such as a heart or lung condition, diabetes or asthma.
The flu jab is free if you receive Carer's Allowance or are an informal carer of an older person who relies on you for care.
Travel discounts
If you are aged 60 or over, or under this age and have a disability, you might be eligible for public transport concessions.
If you live anywhere in England, then you can get a bus pass for free local travel when you reach the state pension age, which is currently 66. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland you can get a bus pass earlier, at the age of 60.
If you are 60 or over and live in London, then you can get free travel on buses, trains and other modes of transport in and around the city with a 60+ Oyster photocard.
You may also be able to get a London Freedom Pass, which gives residents over the age of 66 free travel in the city across National Rail, the Underground, buses, river services and trams. This could save you up to £8.10 every day, which is the cap on travel between zone 1 and 2.
There are other transport providers offering discounts, such as National Express. It offers Coachcards, which are discount cards for older or disabled customers. You can buy them for a set fee of £15 and they give you a third off the cost of your travel for a year. Based on taking four fully flexible return journeys from London to Bristol during this year, you could stand to save £52.80, quickly making back your money.
If you take the train regularly, National Rail has a Senior Railcard for £35 a year or £80 for three years, where you can save an average of £112 a year on rail fares.
Cheap days out
Pensioners can also take advantage of big discounts at a huge range of museums, galleries and other attractions. For example, English Heritage offers people aged over 65 a membership of £5.75 a month or £69 per year, compared with £6.83 and £82 respectively for standard membership.
Odeon, Vue and Empire cinema chains offer cheaper tickets to pensioners. Odeon Silvers, for example, is for over 60s who want to see films during quieter times of the day. Tickets are from £3.50, and the price includes tea, coffee and biscuits served before the film starts.
Some football clubs also include a discounted senior citizen rate for tickets; for example, Chelsea fans over the age of 65 could save over £500 on a 2025-26 season ticket by going for the senior ticket option.
Elsewhere, The Royal Shakespeare Company offers a 20pc discount on all seats for Monday and Tuesday evening performances, and all midweek matinees for those aged over 65.
Pension credit