Pension credit is the commonly used name for state pension credit, a means-tested benefit payable if you (and your partner, if you have one) have reached pension age (see Chapter 46(2)). Pension credit has two elements: guarantee credit (see 3 below) and savings credit (see 5 below).

Future changes – The government intends to introduce a new element for pension credit to cover eligible rent: the ‘housing credit’. This will replace the support currently available through housing benefit, which is being replaced by universal credit for people of working age. Housing credit will be introduced from April 2028 at the earliest.