State pensioners could claim free TV licence thanks to underclaimed DWP benefit - are you eligible?

Patrick O'Donnell
Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:29:05 +0000

State pensioners could be entitled to a free television licence thanks to an underclaimed benefit payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Older Britons are being reminded to check their eligibility for Pension Credit, a top-up benefit reserved for those of state pension age who are on low income.

Pension Credit is widely considered a gateway benefit to additional support, such as free prescriptions, council tax reductions, and even free TV licences.

Similar to the state pension, Pension Credit received a 4.8 per cent payment top-up thanks to the triple lock, which is the mechanism used to determine the annual hike to retirement benefits.

Under the triple lock, state pensions and other retirement benefits see their payment rates increase every year by the higher of inflation, average wage growth, or 2.5 per cent.

As such, the full, new state pension's maximum amount has jumped from £230.25 to £241.30 per week, while the full basic state pension has risen from £176.45 to £184.90 weekly.

Furthermore, Pension Credit now provides eligible older households an average of £4,300 annually in extra benefit support.

However, figures from the DWP suggest that more than 910,000 qualifying households fail to claim the benefit every year despite otherwise being eligible.

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Here is a list of some extra "freebie" benefits older Britons can claim if they are eligible for Pension Credit:

Council tax reduction

Housing benefit for renters

Mortgage interest support for homeowners

Cold Weather Payment, worth £25 in energy bill support for households that experience seven days of sub-zero temperatures

Free TV licence for claimants over the age of 75.

As it stands, Pension Credit tops up the weekly income of single claimants to £238, and the joint weekly income of couples to £363.25.

To be eligible for Pension Credit, older Britons need to meet the following qualifying criteria:

Reside in either England, Scotland, or Wales and have reached the state pension age

Couples qualify if either both are of state pension age, or one of the two gets Housing Benefit and has reached retirement age

Income, including the state pension, pensions, wages, and certain benefits, does not exceed the weekly income provided by the benefit.

Earlier this year, DWP minister Torsten Bell said: "I know global shocks, and the effects they have on our living costs, will be increasing anxiety for many households.

"This Government will always protect our pensioners, and that's why we are raising the full rate of the new state pension by up to £575 this coming year."

Labour's Pensions Minister Torsten Bell added: "After a lifetime of work and contribution, people deserve a decent retirement. Raising the state pensions faster than prices, ensuring it is a pension they can rely on, is how we make that a reality for millions."

Older Britons can check their eligibility for Pension Credit by checking the Government's website.