3. People included in the claim
If you are single, you claim pension credit (PC) for yourself. If you are a member of a couple and both you and your partner are pension age (see
here), either of you can claim PC for you both. If only one of you is pension age, see above. See
here for who counts as a couple.
The ‘appropriate minimum guarantee’ that forms part of the calculation of your PC includes an allowance for a couple and can include additional amounts based on your and your partner’s circumstances. When the amount of your PC is worked out, your partner’s income and capital are usually added to yours.
If you are claiming PC but your partner has not yet reached pension age, they may qualify for national insurance (NI) credits to protect their NI record. See
Chapter 43 for more details about NI credits.
If you are responsible for a child or qualifying young person, this may affect the amount of your PC (see
here).