£ 1.8 billion in unclaimed pension credit

You can apply via Gov.uk if you have already applied for your state pension, but otherwise you will need to phone the Pensions Department on 0800 99 1234 (or the NI Pensions Center on 0808 100 6165). You can backdate for three months, so the faster you check, the faster you’ll profit.

You can also apply by mail if you can’t do it over the phone – see more in How to apply for pension credit.

If you are helping someone find out if they are eligible, you can also call the Pensions Department on their behalf if they cannot do it themselves.

Pension credit is a gateway to free TV licenses and more

Even if you find out that you are only entitled to a small amount of pension credit, it may still be worth claiming, as it may mean that you are eligible for other benefits.

For example, those with retirement credit who are over 75 can apply for a free TV license worth £ 159, while those claiming the bulk of the retirement credit may qualify for perks, including a reduction in council tax, potentially worth £ 1,000 / year, and the homely home discount on energy bills, worth £ 140 / year.

The pension credit can also help you access many other discounts, ranging from free home insulation to free dental care. For full details, see our list of other extras you can get with annuity credit.