There are a number of ways that state pensioners can boost their income for next month, and it is important that they are aware of what is available. Listed below are 11 Government freebies and discounts on offer that could take some pain from pockets in the lead-up to Christmas.
Due to a 4.1% uprating of the State Pension back in April this year, pensioners across the UK have already been handed an increase in cash each month. The full basic State Pension is now worth £176.45 per week (or £9,175.40 per year) and the full new State Pension is worth £230.25 per week (or £11,973 per year). According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the new 2025/26 rates amount to an extra £360 annually for basic State Pension claimants, while those on the new State Pension will be up to around £470 better off per year. Of course, this is only the case if you qualify for the full amount, so pensioners who don’t have enough qualifying National Insurance years will get less than this amount.
Listed are a number of freebies and discounts pensioners could claim for November.
Pension Credit – up to £4,300
Pension Credit can provides a lifeline in retirement to pensioners on low incomes as it unlocks a variety of different, extra financial support. This includes help with housing costs, Council Tax, and the Winter Fuel Payment, which is worth up to £300. However, this benefit goes significantly underclaimed per, with more than 700,000 pensioners thought to be eligible who aren’t accessing the support.
The process to claim is thought to only take around 16 minutes and is worth around £4,300 per year on average if an applicant is successful.
Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist at Royal London, said: “People can apply for Pension Credit any time, and it could be worth over £4,000 a year. Our research shows that many people are missing out because they haven’t checked to see if they qualify.
“Three in 10 people over State Pension age who were on a low income hadn’t checked to see if they were entitled to Pension Credit, while one in ten pensioners who had been told they qualified for Pension Credit have yet to apply.
“You can backdate your claim for Pension Credit by up to three months, and the sooner you claim, the sooner you could start receiving payments. Not only that, but if you’re entitled to Pension Credit, you’ll be able to get extra help with costs such as rent and Council Tax, which could make a big difference.”
You can start an application for Pension Credit up to four months before you reach State Pension age – which is currently 66 for both men and women – and any time after, but your application can only be backdated by three months. You can apply online via GOV.UK or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
Supermarket vouchers £70
State pensioners receiving specific benefits and living in certain areas are being handed free vouchers to spend in supermarkets in November. The payment comes as part of the Government’s Household Support Fund, which gives local councils across England a share of a funding pot worth £742 million.
The fund is to help vulnerable households with essential living costs during the winter months, including energy bills and food. The funding is allocated from now until March 31, 2026, and local councils independently decide how to share the cash, so depending on where you live, there may be different eligibility criteria to receive the support.
Some pensioners are being handed up to £70 worth of vouchers. Check your local council’s website to see what support is on offer.
Housing Benefit – £1,000
If you rent your home and you get the Guarantee element of Pension Credit, then you’re eligible for the maximum Housing Benefit entitlement from your local council. This isn’t a fixed amount, but Martin Lewis’ MSE says you could get around £1,000 per year, and potentially have your rent paid in full.
Free TV Licence – £174.50
Anyone aged 75 and over and claiming Pension Credit can get a free TV Licence bill, making a saving of £174.50.
Council Tax discount – £1,600
Pension Credit claimants can potentially get a council tax discount. The exact amount you’ll get depends on your local council, but it can be anything from around £300 for a 25% reduction on a typical Band D bill up to around £1,600 for a 100% discount, so it is definitely worth speaking to your authority.
Free NHS prescriptions – £9.90
Claiming Pension Credit will also entitle you to free NHS prescriptions; this is a saving of £9.90 per item in England.
Free eye care – up to £215
If you get any of the Guarantee element of Pension Credit, then you are entitled to help with NHS eye care, including a voucher for glasses or contact lenses. According to Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert, this could be worth up to £215, depending on your prescription.
Free NHS dental treatment – up to £1,000
Pensioners who qualify for the Guarantee element of Pension Credit are also entitled to free NHS dental treatment, including anything from a simple check-up to full dentures. According to Martin Lewis’ MSE, this could amount to up to £1,000 worth of free treatment per year.
Royal Mail redirection discount – £24
Pension Credit claimants are entitled to a discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if they’re moving house. The service normally costs £84, but you’ll only have to pay £60 – giving you a saving of £24.
Cold weather payment – £25
You may be eligible for a £25 cold weather payment, which usually runs from November to March. During this time, you could receive a £25 payment for each seven-day period of very cold weather in your area. You must be receiving certain benefits, including Pension Credit, to qualify. If you are eligible, the payment is usually made automatically.
Attendance Allowance – up to £5,740.80
Attendance Allowance helps people with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you, and is worth £73.90 per week for the lower rate or £110.40 per week for the higher rate of payment.
If you have a severe disability, which means you require regular assistance day and night, you could claim the higher amount. There are a total of 56 categories of conditions that could make you eligible. If you get the higher rate, this could be worth up to £5,740.80 per year.
A total of over £14,150 is available if someone is eligable for all of the above freebies and discounts.
