To apply for Pension Credit  call 0800 99 1234 FREE

If you are over 60 - or approaching your 60th birthday - you could receive some much needed extra money every week by applying for Pension Credit.

Pension Credit has two parts - the guarantee credit and the savings credit - neither of which is taxable. If your weekly income is below £130.00 as a single person or £198.45 as a couple, the first will guarantee that your weekly income is at least that amount.

If you are over 65 and have a modest income from an occupational or private pension, savings or certain other sources - over a level called the savings credit threshold ( £91.20 for a single person and £145.80 for a couple) - you may still be eligible for savings credit. Some people can claim both.

This can amount to £19.71 a week if you are single and £26.13 if you have a partner - provided your weekly income as a single person is less than £174.00 or £255 for couples. But if you are disabled, a carer or have housing costs you may be entitled to savings credit even if your weekly income is higher.

If you receive Pension Credit you may also get Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit if you rent, and help towards your mortgage repayments and service charges if you are a home owner. And if your partner is under 60 but you meet the qualifying age, you are still eligible as a couple.

How entitlement to Pension Credit is calculated

Both parts of Pension Credit are based on an assessment of your income, savings and other circumstances. If you have savings of more than £6000 some of that amount will be taken into account as income. But there is no upper limit to the amount of capital you can have.

Your weekly income from all those sources is calculated then compared with the 'appropriate amount' - the minimum weekly amount needed for day to day living expenses - for your individual circumstances. The 'appropriate amount' will be higher for some disabled people, carers and homeowners with certain housing costs.

If your income is below this amount you will receive guarantee credit to bring it up to that level. And if it's above you may still be eligible for savings credit.

The value of your home and certain other types of capital and income - such as Disability or Attendance Allowance - will not be used in these calculations. And If you apply for Pension Credit and are eligible, you may receive a payment backdated for up to 3 months from the day you were first entitled to the date you first applied. As the rules are changing, if someone wished their claim backdated for 12months they would need to have their claim in before 06/10/08.

How to apply for Pension Credit

You can apply for Pension Credit by calling free on 0800 99 1234 or textphone 0800 169 0133. The line is open 8.00am - 8.00pm Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturday. You can make a claim over the phone or ask them to send you a claim form by post.

You can also download a claim form from the website - www.dwp.gov.uk - or pick up one from your local Pension Service office. Local pension staff will also be able to help you complete your claim forms or arrange a home visit if you need one. If you call 0845 60 60 265 you will be put through to your nearest office.

For more information please see the following link www.thepensionservice.gov.uk