Pensioners living on their own owed £4k State Pension boost
Welfare, benefits and pensions spending in the UK now exceeds £300 billion a year, over a quarter of all government expenditure. We've become a nation addicted to wealth redistribution, while abandoning wealth creation. With 7.7 million on benefits, 3 million not even seeking… pic.twitter.com/0SJZHpgvhL — Ben Habib (@BackBrexitBen) July 2, 2025
Despite the full New State Pension now worth £230.25 per week and the full Basic State Pension worth £176.45, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in 2021, some 3.3 million people aged 65 years and over were living alone in England and Wales, with around 337,000 single pensioner households recorded in Scotland.
All older people - single, married or cohabiting - must make sure they are claiming all the additional financial support they are entitled to this year to help boost their income and offset the ongoing impact of the cost of living.
Who can claim Pension Credit?
There are two types of Pension Credit - Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.
To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit, you must be State Pension age (66). Your weekly income will need to be less than the minimum amount the UK Government says you need to live on.
This is £227.10 for a single person and £346.60 for a couple - this amount could be higher if you're disabled, a carer or have certain housing costs.
Pension Credit is the most under-claimed benefit and is specifically aimed at providing additional financial support for older people on a low income, singles and couples.
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Nearly 1.4 million older people across Great Britain, including more than 125,000 living in Scotland, are currently receiving the means-tested benefit that could provide an average of £4,300 in extra support during the coming months.
Some older people think that because they have savings or own their home, they would not be eligible for the means-tested benefit, which can also provide access to help with housing costs, heating bills and Council Tax.
An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock other support.
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