With Pension Awareness Day taking place today, 15 September 2026 and the National Pension Tracing Day coming up in October, we thought it would be a good time to think about your pension, check what support you may be entitled to and make sure you haven’t lost track of any pension savings.
State Pensions
Your State Pension age depends on when you were born. You can check your State Pension age using the government's online tool here.
Up to four months before you reach State Pension age, you will receive a letter from the Pensions Service explaining how to claim your State Pension. It’s important to remember that you will not automatically receive your pension related benefits; you must apply for them.
If you're claiming Universal Credit, your entitlement may change or stop when you reach State Pension age. If you receive help with rent through Universal Credit and this ends/stops, you may need to claim Housing Benefit instead.
If you need guidance, contact our Income Recovery and Financial Inclusion team on 0800 028 0350.
Additional Support
The government offers a range of benefits depending on your circumstances and you could get help if you:
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need help paying your rent (Housing Benefit)
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need help paying your heating bill (Winter Fuel Payment and Warm Home Discount)
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are claiming benefits and the weather is cold (Cold Weather Payments)
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are disabled (Attendance Allowance)
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are on a low income (Pension Credit)
Pension Credit
Pension Credit provides extra money to help with living costs if you’re over the State Pension age and on a low income. The income threshold to qualify for Pension Credit is a weekly income below £238.00 for single people and £363.25 for couples, however disability benefits including daily living rate of PIP or Attendance Allowance can result in a higher income threshold being applied to Pension Credit eligibility. This means that pensioners on full state pension that also have a disability benefit may be entitled to claim.
To see if you would be eligible for Pension Credit, use the governments online calculator. If you are eligible, and have already applied for your state pension, you can use the government's online service to apply for Pension Credit. If you are unable to apply online, call the DWP on 0800 99 1234.
Pension Tracing
Lost track of an old pension? The government's Pension Tracing Service can help you find contact details for pension providers.
For help with personal pensions, contact your provider first. You can also access free and impartial guidance through MoneyHelper.
If you're aged 50 or over, Pension Wise offers information about your retirement options.
While our Financial Inclusion Officers cannot provide regulated pension advice, they can explain how pension income may affect your benefits and help you access the support available.
Darren Sims, Senior Housing Officer, said:
" When accessing your pension, getting the right support can make all the difference. We’re here to offer guidance and support to those who need it. While we may not always have all the answers, we can listen, help you understand the potential impact on your circumstances, and make sure you know your next steps."
