Millions of pensioners could be missing out on DWP benefits, discounts and other help they may be entitled to.
With household budgets under pressure, older people could be overlooking valuable support that could help with everyday bills and expenses.
Some forms of help are provided by the DWP, while others are available through councils, charities, retailers and other organisations.
Crucially, some payments and discounts are not automatic, meaning eligible people may need to check their circumstances and apply. From help with living costs to discounts on travel, household expenses and other essentials, there are a number of schemes worth checking.
And you do not necessarily have to be receiving the State Pension to qualify – some support is available to people aged 60 and over.
Here are some of the key DWP benefits, discounts and deals older people could be missing out on, plus how to check whether you qualify and apply.
New State Pension
You’ll be able to claim the new State Pension when you reach State Pension age if you’re:
If you were born before, these rules do not apply. Instead, you’ll get the basic State Pension . You may also get Additional State Pension .
If your income is over £35,000, Winter Fuel Payment is recovered through your tax
If you’d prefer not to receive it, you can opt out
Deadlines apply this week
Find out more: https://t.co/dp9ObW9otz pic.twitter.com/o1xdWoNKmm
— Department for Work and Pensions (@DWPgovuk) September 15, 2026
Basic State Pension
Everyone eligible for the basic State Pension has now reached State Pension age . To get it you need to have enough National Insurance qualifying years.
You also need to be either a:
If you were born on or after these dates, you’ll claim the new State Pension instead.
You will have already claimed your basic State Pension unless you delayed (deferred) your State Pension .
Additional State Pension
The Additional State Pension is an extra amount of money you could get on top of your basic State Pension if you’re:
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) .
You get the new State Pension if you were born on or after this date. You will not qualify for the Additional State Pension, but you might still be able to inherit Additional State Pension from your partner.
You get the Additional State Pension automatically if you’re eligible for it, unless you’ve contracted out of it. The Additional State Pension is paid with your basic State Pension.
Over 80 Pension
The over 80 pension is a State Pension for people aged 80 or over. To be eligible you must get either a basic State Pension of less than £110.75 a week, or no basic State Pension at all.
It can give you £110.75 a week in the 2026 to 2027 tax year.
Pension Credit
Pension Credit is the most under-claimed benefit, aimed at providing extra financial support for older people on low incomes – both singles and couples.
You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached State Pension age to qualify for Pension Credit.
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Only engage with trusted official sources
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— Department for Work and Pensions (@DWPgovuk) September 9, 2025
You may be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have to pay certain housing costs, such as mortgage interest payments.
It used to be the case that couples, where one person was over state pension age, could claim, but new rules now mean that both people in a couple must be over state pension age to apply. So, if you’re single and move in with a partner who is younger than the threshold, you will stop being eligible.
But if you’re already receiving pension credit under the old system it won’t stop unless your circumstances change.
How to claim Pension Credit
You can claim the benefit online or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
Before you ring up it’s worth having your details ready and to hand – this is things like your National Insurance number, bank account details and information about your income, savings and investments.
Winter Fuel Payments
Winter Fuel payment eligibility changed again last year, with millions more now due to receive the payment.
If you are of State Pension Age, you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2026. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.
If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. You can check if your income is over the threshold and how HMRC will take it back .
NEWS! Govt’s confirmed it WILL keep this promise. I’ve got a statement from Minister for Pensions @TorstenBell:
“In line with the commitment made at Budget 2025, pensioners who only just the exceed the personal allowance will not have the administrative burden of paying small… https://t.co/I4wUgB56Eq
— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) September 15, 2026
Free Prescriptions
Everyone aged over 60 gets free prescriptions. You’re also entitled to a free NHS sight test, so you should let your optician know when you reach 60.
Depending on your circumstances, you could also get help with:
Free Passport
If you were born on or before September 2, 1929, and are a British citizen, you may be eligible for a free passport. More information and application details can be found on here.
Free/discounted TV Licences
TV licences are now only free for people who receive Pension Credit. However, people over State Pension age who are registered as severely sight-impaired or blind may qualify for a half-price TV licence. There’s details of who is eligible and how to apply on the gov.uk site .
Cold Weather Payments
These are extra payments for people receiving certain benefits, such as Pension Credit, when there’s very cold weather. A Cold Weather Payment is £25 a week for each 7-day period – or forecasted 7-day period – of cold weather. This only applies between 1 November and 31 March each year.
Warm Home Discount
If you receive Pension Credit or you’re on a low income with high energy costs, you might be entitled to a £150 reduction on your electricity bill through the Warm Home Discount scheme. Check with your provider. This has also become more generous this year, applying to 2.7m more low income households winter 2026/7, so apply, even if you’ve been rejected previously.
Martin Lewis says: “That’s good as it’s a terribly implemented system which left many, literally, unfairly out in the cold.”
Over 60 free bus pass, senior railcard and transport concessions
If you’re 60 or over or you have a disability, you might be eligible for public transport concessions – from a senior rail card to a free bus pass.
In most parts of England you can get a bus pass for free travel when you reach the State Pension age, but this is age 60 if you’re in Merseyside or London, so do check.
In Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland you can get a bus pass when you reach 60.
Social tariffs on broadband, phone, water and internet bills
Social tariffs are cheaper broadband, phone and water packages for people claiming DWP benefits, but millions of people are missing out because they aren’t aware of the support available.
Martin Lewis discussed these tariffs on his programme, causing a spike of interest in these ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ broadband and phone packages, which are available to people on Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some disability benefits.
They’re delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price, and sometimes with better terms, such as no mid-contract increases. They could cut your broadband or phone bill to £10, but many don’t realise they can apply. There’s a full guide here – if you aren’t sure, ask your supplier.
Council Tax Assistance
There’s no set amount of Council Tax Reduction – it depends on your circumstances and where you live. Each council operates its own Council Tax Reduction scheme, so the amounts of support given across the country may vary.
Wherever you live, the amount of Council Tax Reduction you get depends on many factors, including:
You may get more Council Tax Reduction if you receive a disability or carer’s benefit. Also, if you live alone, you can apply for a single person’s discount of 25%.
Age UK has some helpful information on this. If you receive the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit you may even get your Council Tax paid in full.
Housing Benefit
This can help you cover your rent, and you can make a new claim for Housing Benefit if you’re State Pension age or over (unlike younger claimants).
If you and your partner aren’t State Pension age and you need help with paying your rent, you can only claim Housing Benefit if you live in supported, sheltered or temporary housing. Otherwise, you’ll need to make a claim for Universal Credit instead.
If you own your home and you’re having trouble paying the interest on your mortgage, you might be eligible for a Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loan.
Disability benefits and help for carers
These benefits include:
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – if you’re under State Pension age, if you reached State Pension age while claiming PIP this will continue
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) – you will need to have been already claiming this before you reached State Pension age
Attendance Allowance – if you’re over State Pension age and have not claimed DLA or PIP
Carer’s Allowance – if you are a carer or someone cares for you, there can be funding to help with this. The rules have become more generous on this, so even if you weren’t previously eligible, it’s worth checking if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.
Loyalty cards, discounts and deals
Many shops offer deals and discounts for over 60s, and some have special days with extra bargains.
Iceland offers 10% off your shopping every Tuesday when you show valid ID and an Iceland Bonus card.
Have we missed some great deals or discounts for pensioners? Please drop us a line to jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk
And, as always, don’t be afraid to apply for a discount or ask for a better deal.
Retired NHS and education workers could be missing out on thousands of pounds in discounts
Pensioners are being urged to check they are receiving all the financial support they are entitled to – but benefits and pensions are not the only way retirees could save money.
Former NHS and education workers could still qualify for thousands of pounds worth of discounts after leaving the workforce.
Free schemes including Health Service Discounts and Discounts for Teachers offer access to deals across more than 2,000 brands, with potential savings of more than £2,200 a year.
That means retired healthcare and education staff could potentially cut the cost of everyday spending, travel, leisure and other essentials – even after they have stopped working.
Dave Cawley, Finance Director, says: “Amid ongoing conversations about the rising cost of living and the financial support available to pensioners, it’s important to highlight the additional help that retired NHS and education professionals can access. Many people don’t realise that even after leaving the workforce, they remain eligible for a wide range of exclusive discounts through Health Service Discounts and Discounts for Teachers.
“Our platforms are completely free to use and offer real, meaningful savings on everyday essentials, travel, leisure and more, helping former healthcare and education staff stretch their pensions further at a time when every pound matters. We’re proud to give something back to the people who spent their careers supporting our communities, ensuring they continue to feel valued long after retirement.”
Save money on things you already buy
You do not necessarily need to change your spending habits to make savings in retirement.
Using discounts and cashback on purchases you are already making can help reduce everyday costs over time.
Members of Health Service Discounts and Discounts for Teachers can currently access cashback on shopping and groceries, including 5% cashback at Tesco, as well as cashback at stores including Waitrose and ASDA.
While individual savings may be relatively small, regular discounts can add up over the course of a year and help retirement income stretch further. Both platforms are free to join.
