From April 2025 through September 2025, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is paying Pension Credit at updated rates.
The headline figure of £346.60 per week is the Guarantee Credit minimum for couples; for single claimants, the minimum is £227.10 per week.
You can apply any time after reaching State Pension age, backdate for up to 3 months, and most people are paid every 4 weeks.
What is Pension Credit?
Pension Credit is a means-tested top-up for people over State Pension age on a low income. It has two parts:
- Guarantee Credit – tops your income up to a weekly minimum amount.
- Savings Credit – a small extra for those who saved for retirement and reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.
Importantly, Pension Credit is separate from the State Pension and can unlock other help (see below).
The September 2025 payment amount (DWP rates in force)
From April 2025 (and therefore in September 2025), the Guarantee Credit minimums are:
- £227.10/week for single people
- £346.60/week for couples (the figure behind “£346 Pension Credit”)
Additional weekly extra amounts can be included if you qualify, for example:
- Severe disability addition: £82.90 (single); £165.80 (both members of a couple qualify)
- Carer addition: £46.40 if you’re entitled to Carer’s Allowance
- Child/young person additions where applicable (for pensioners responsible for children)
- Savings Credit (if eligible): up to £17.30 (single) or £19.36 (couple); thresholds: £198.27 (single) / £314.34 (couple)
Typical 4-weekly payments:
- Single: £227.10 × 4 = £908.40
- Couple: £346.60 × 4 = £1,386.40 (before any extra amounts)
Who can get Pension Credit?
You’ll normally qualify if you:
- Live in England, Scotland or Wales, and
- Have reached State Pension age, and
- Have a low income (below the DWP’s weekly minimum guarantee after counting your income and any extra amounts that apply).
Savings & capital rules (no upper limit)
There’s no maximum savings limit, but if you have over £10,000 in savings/investments, DWP assumes £1/week income for every £500 (or part of £500) above £10,000, which can reduce your award.
If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016
You may get Savings Credit on top of Guarantee Credit if your income comes from certain pensions/savings. Maximums and thresholds for 2025/26 are shown in the table below.
September 2025 payment timing
- How often you’re paid: Usually every 4 weeks (some may be paid weekly).
- Bank holidays: There are no bank holidays in England & Wales in September 2025, so no routine date shifts are expected. (The last one before September is Mon 25 Aug 2025; the next are 25–26 Dec 2025.)
Tip: If your payment date ever falls on a bank holiday, DWP typically pays early.
What you’ll get: rates & extras (2025/26)
| Component | Single | Couple | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guarantee Credit minimum (weekly) | £227.10 | £346.60 | The core top-up that brings income up to these levels. |
| Severe disability addition (weekly) | £82.90 | £165.80 (both qualify) | Based on disability benefits and living arrangements. |
| Carer addition (weekly) | £46.40 | £46.40 (if one is a carer) | Usually when you’re entitled to Carer’s Allowance. |
| Savings Credit – max (weekly) | £17.30 | £19.36 | Only if you reached SPA before 6 Apr 2016. Thresholds: £198.27/£314.34. |
| Child addition (weekly) | from £67.42–£78.10 | — | Higher amounts for disabled children (£36.54 lower / £114.12 higher). |
Worked examples (how the £346.60 figure functions)
- Couple with £300/week income (after disregards):
DWP tops you up to £346.60, so £46.60/week is paid (more if you qualify for carer or severe disability additions). - Single person with £205/week income:
Top-up to £227.10 = £22.10/week (plus any extra amounts you qualify for).
Extra help you unlock by getting Pension Credit
Receiving Pension Credit (especially the Guarantee Credit) can entitle you to:
- Free TV Licence at age 75+ (covers the whole household).
- Council Tax Reduction (apply via your local council).
- Possible Housing Benefit if you rent; help with certain service charges/ground rent; and Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) if you own your home (up to £100,000 mortgage/loan interest covered via an SMI loan when on Pension Credit).
- Help with NHS health costs (via the NHS Low Income Scheme; Guarantee Credit often qualifies you for full help).
- Warm Home Discount (reopening October 2025; Guarantee Credit is a qualifying route in England, Wales and Scotland).
Eligibility checklist for September 2025
You’re likely to qualify for Guarantee Credit in September 2025 if:
- You’ve reached State Pension age and live in Great Britain
- Your weekly income (after permitted disregards) is below £227.10 (single) or £346.60 (couple), or would fall below once extra amounts (carer, disability, children) are included.
Savings rule: The first £10,000 of savings is ignored; above that, DWP adds £1/week to “assumed income” for each £500 (or part).
How to claim (step-by-step)
You can start your claim up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age; if you’re already over it, you can backdate up to 3 months if you were eligible during that period.
Ways to apply:
- Online: Use the official Pension Credit online service.
- By phone: Pension Credit claim line – 0800 99 1234 (Textphone 0800 169 0133, Relay UK 18001 0800 99 1234, Mon–Fri).
- By post: Complete form PC1 and send to Freepost DWP Pension Service 3 (no stamp/postcode needed). You can print the interactive PC1 form from GOV.UK.
What you’ll need: National Insurance number, income and savings details, pension information, housing costs (rent/service charges or mortgage interest).
Common reasons people miss out
- Thinking savings are “too high” (there’s no upper limit; only the £10,000 rule applies).
- Believing home ownership or having a small private pension disqualifies you (it doesn’t, though it’s counted in the calculation).
- Not realising that even small awards can unlock significant extra help (for example, free TV licence at 75+ and Council Tax Reduction).
September 2025: Key takeaways
- The £346.60/week figure is the joint minimum for couples under Guarantee Credit for 2025/26, paid by DWP. It applies in September 2025.
- Singles have a minimum of £227.10/week.
- No September bank holidays disturb normal payment runs in England & Wales.
- Claim now if you’re eligible; you could be backdated up to 3 months, boosting your first payment.
If you’re over State Pension age and on a low income, Pension Credit can raise your weekly income to at least £227.10 (single) or £346.60 (couple) in September 2025, with extra amounts for carers, disabilities and children.
Because there’s no savings cap (only the £10,000 “assumed income” rule), many people who think they don’t qualify actually do—and even a small award can unlock big extras like a free TV licence at 75, Council Tax Reduction, Housing Benefit, SMI and help with NHS costs.
With no bank holidays shifting payments in September and backdating available for 3 months, checking eligibility and claiming today can protect your income for the months ahead.
FAQs
No. The £346.60 figure is the weekly Guarantee Credit minimum for couples that has applied since April 2025; it continues through September 2025 and beyond until rates are next updated.