Your State Pension age depends on your sex and date of birth.
You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.
PC is separate to your State Pension. Your claim for PC will also be affected by other income or savings you have, or property you own.
Eligibility
- You live in Scotland
- You have reached State Pension age
- If you have a partner, you must include them in your application. You are eligible for a joint application if either:
- Both of you have reached State Pension age, or
- One of you receives Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age
Your income
Pension Credit tops up your weekly income, alongside income you get from other places. Your income might come from your:
- State Pension
- Other pensions
- Earnings from employment or self-employment
- Most benefits, such as Carer Support Payment
The following benefits do not count as income:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Christmas Bonus
- Child Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Personal Independence Payment
- Social fund payments like Winter Fuel Payment
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
Weekly amounts
If you receive PC, your weekly income will be topped up as follows:
| Circumstances | Maximum weekly amount |
|---|---|
| Single | £227.10 |
| In a partnership | £346.60 together |
Carer’s premium
If you care for another adult, you could get an extra £46.40 per week if you get Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance.
This is part of your Pension Credit application and you don’t need to apply separately.
Other factors affecting your PC claim
You can receive other additional elements of Pension Credit if:
- You have a severe disability or health condition
- You are responsible for children or young people
- Any of your children is disabled
- You need to pay for housing costs
- You have savings or a second pension
Find out more on the UK Gov website.
Apply or find out more
- Apply on the UK Gov website
- Use the Pension Credit calculator from UK Gov
- Read more info from Citizens Advice
- Use the benefits calculator from Edinburgh Council
Contact VOCAL
If you still have any questions about Pension Credit, you can contact our benefits team at VOCAL. We provide one-to-one advice, as well as regular advice surgeries where we offer benefits checks to carers we support.
