MPs debate concerns as state pension age rises to 67 between April 2026 and 2028

MPs have been debating changes to state pension rules and how people could face varying retirement ages. The state pension age is set to rise from April 2026.

Currently, you can claim your state pension upon reaching 66, but the access age is increasing to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028. With this major shift approaching, the Work and Pensions Committee has been discussing with policy specialists the potential consequences.

A significant concern is that workers may reach a point where they’re physically unable to continue working, particularly in demanding manual roles. Yet they still face years of waiting before accessing their state pension.

The committee heard from policy advocates about the challenges confronting older employees and what additional measures could be introduced to assist them. The committee asked the panel about the suggestion the Government should offer better workplace support to sectors it can “influence most directly”, such as health, social care, and education.

Jon Richards, assistant general secretary at public service union UNISON, highlighted how the rules can vary for different workers. He said: “If you compare ambulance workers to fire and police workers, they have different retirement ages. It’s very difficult for ambulance workers, even though they are manually handling all the time, all the day, more so than police and fire workers, yet they are not able to retire as early.”

Mr Richards stated that the union carried out a survey among ambulance workers to determine what would persuade them to stay in their roles, reports the Mirror. The most frequent response was a reduction in their retirement age.

Numerous NHS staff, including ambulance crews, have their retirement age linked to the state pension age, which is due to rise beyond 67, reaching 68 between April 2044 and 2046. Some workers can choose to access reduced benefits from the age of 55, which is also the age at which private pensions can be accessed.

However, this threshold is set to increase to 57 in April 2028. Research carried out by the GMB Union in 2024 revealed that 75 per cent of ambulance workers who retired in 2023 did so before the age of 60.

By comparison, the retirement age for many police and fire service personnel is 60, although early pension access may be available in certain circumstances. Mr Richards also pointed out that initiatives to improve support within the education sector frequently overlook some vital members of staff.

He told the committee: “If you look at other sectors like education, the focus is always on teachers, professional workers, yet 50 percent of people in schools is support staff, cleaners, teaching assistants.”

He referenced a previous Department for Education study examining teachers’ mental health. Researchers believed the findings could also be applicable to teaching assistants and other school staff. Mr Richards explained that they were required to inform the department that workers such as teaching assistants function “in a completely different way” to teachers.

The policy advocate was keen to dispel a further misconception, saying: “You get this idea of public sector workers with their ‘gold-plated pensions’ and other things like that. I always say this, but the local Government pension scheme average pension is just over £5,000.”

State pensioners are set to receive a welcome boost this April thanks to the triple lock mechanism. This guarantee ensures payments increase in line with whichever is the highest of three figures: 2.5 per cent, wage growth, or inflation.

Earnings growth proved the highest measure last year, meaning pension payments will rise by 4.8 per cent from April. This will see the full new state pension climb from the current £230.25 weekly to £241.30 weekly, while the full basic state pension will increase from the present £176.45 weekly to £184.90 weekly.

More than 9,900 people over State Pension age are receiving Attendance Allowance for hearing conditions, with payments of up to £441.60 every four weeks available to help with daily living costs

Throughout Great Britain, an estimated 12 million adults are thought to be living with hearing impairment or deafness, yet only just over 40,200 of them are claiming additional financial assistance via Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Attendance Allowance, or Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP).

PADP is a devolved benefit which has now superseded all fresh applications for Attendance Allowance in Scotland. The payment is managed and processed by Social Security Scotland rather than the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – complete information is available on MYGOV.SCOT..

Over 9,900 individuals above State Pension age are currently claiming either £73.90 for the lower rate, or £110.40 for the higher rate of Attendance Allowance weekly for a hearing condition. Payments are usually issued every four weeks, equating to either £296.60 or £441.60 per payment cycle.

There are 15 primary hearing conditions supported through these three disability benefits, though this is not an exhaustive list. The benefit covers a constantly expanding range of conditions, reports the Daily Record.

If you, or someone you’re aware of, under State Pension age (66) has a hearing condition, you should think about submitting a fresh claim for PIP or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) – discover more here. If you, or someone you know is 66 or over, and living with a hearing impairment, it may be worth considering making a claim for Attendance Allowance or PADP.

Currently, Attendance Allowance is assisting more than 1.7 million individuals in England and Wales, whilst PADP supports over 135,000 pensioners in Scotland.

Attendance Allowance and PADP are intended to aid people of State Pension age with daily living costs and can also help them maintain their independence at home for longer.

It’s crucial to understand that unlike PIP or ADP, there is no mobility component for Attendance Allowance or PADP, these benefits only provide support for the additional cost of daily living.

Small business owners are being urged to sign up for free DWP occupational health training before the March 31 deadline, with warnings that replacing an employee lost to ill-health costs over £11,000

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a warning of an £11,000 cost ahead of a March 31deadline.

Small business owners and managers are being urged to take advantage of a free government-backed scheme before it closes at the end of next month. The alert comes as recent figures show that losing just one employee due to ill-health can cost a small business more than £11,000.

The DWP is now promoting its free ‘Support with Occupational Health’ training, designed to help create a ‘healthier, more resilient workforce’.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, DWP said: “Replacing an employee lost to ill-health costs small businesses over £11,000. Our free training course will help you build a healthier, more resilient workforce.”

The department added that nearly 2,000 managers have already signed up to the programme. Urging people to ‘sign up now’, it emphasised that the deadline to register is March 31, reports the Mirror.

The training is part of a wider initiative to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) better manage sickness absence and support staff living with disabilities or long-term health conditions. Delivered through the International Workplace platform, the ‘Support with Occupational Health’ (SOH) course is aimed at businesses with between 1 and 249 employees based in England.

The online course is designed to be flexible, taking around 60 to 90 minutes to complete. It equips managers with the necessary tools and confidence to: For many small businesses, the loss of a key staff member can be significant.

Beyond the £11,000 cost associated with recruitment and training for a replacement, sickness absence can result in a decrease in productivity and increased strain on remaining team members.

Government data indicates that by intervening early and providing the right support, many employees who leave the workforce due to health issues could have stayed in their roles.

How to sign up

The course is free and results in a certificate of completion upon finishing. To register or learn more about the eligibility criteria, you can visit the official Support with Occupational Health website here.

State Pension recipients can switch from four-weekly to weekly payments by contacting the DWP if their pension is paid into a bank account

The State Pension is worth up to £230.25 per week during the current financial year and is typically paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) every four weeks. However, whilst most pensioners are content to receive a regular income of up to £921 every payment period, many may be unaware they can alter the frequency of these payments to fortnightly or even weekly.

A former DWP employee with 42 years’ experience in handling State Pensions and benefits has revealed the straightforward way every pensioner, already claiming their State Pension or due to retire this year, can modify how often they are paid.

The key thing to note is the frequency can only be altered if the payments have already been arranged to be made into a bank account, reports the Daily Record.

People already on the New or Basic State Pension

Ex-DWP employee Sandra Wrench told the Daily Record: “If you have already made a claim for State Pension and are in receipt of four-weekly payments, and you want weekly payments, then phone the DWP change of circumstances (Pension Service) telephone number on 0800 731 0469, and request weekly payments.

“Alternatively write to The Pension Service, Post Handling Site A, Wolverhampton WV98 1AF, with your name address and National Insurance number and ask to be changed to weekly payment for your State Pension.”

People about to claim the New State Pension

Mrs Wrench advised: “If you are yet to claim your State Pension, put in the information box on the State Pension claim form ‘Please pay my pension weekly’.”

The DWP insider also highlighted that the four-weekly pay frequency may make it challenging to budget for household bills as it’s not paid monthly, particularly if someone has been accustomed to receiving their salary at the end of each month.

She stated: “From your ‘budget point of view’ it may be easier to be paid weekly then you know exactly how much State Pension has been paid into your account each month.

“For some members of the public who are used to being paid their wages weekly, claiming a State Pension which is paid every four weeks, can cause financial difficulties and make it hard for them to budget.”

The former DWP employee isn’t alone in raising awareness about the payment options. In 2021, BBC Radio 4 Money Box presenter and financial journalist Paul Lewis, spotlighted the weekly payment option in the Radio Times.

He clarified: “Three quarters of all pensioners are paid four weeks in arrears, but a State Pension can also be paid weekly.

“The Government hides this option when people apply, as the application form simply says ‘State Pension is usually paid every four weeks’.”

State Pension annual uprating

Millions of older individuals are set for a significant State Pension increase from April.

The New and Basic State Pension will rise by 4.8 per cent whilst additional State Pension elements and deferred State Pensions will increase by 3.8 per cent.

This adjustment will result in those on the full New State Pension receiving £241.30 per week, whilst those on the maximum Basic State Pension would receive £184.90 per week.

It’s crucial to bear in mind that the amount of State Pension someone receives is dependent on their National Insurance contributions. To receive the full New State Pension you need approximately 35 years’ worth, but this may vary if you were ‘contracted out’.

Full New State Pension rates 2026/27

• Weekly: £241.30 (from £230.25)
• Four-weekly pay period: £965.20
• Annual amount: £12,547

Full Basic State Pension

• Weekly: £184.90 (from £176.45)
• Four-weekly pay period: £739.60
• Annual amount: £9,614

Other State Pension rates

• Category B (lower) Basic State Pension – spouse or civil Partner’s insurance: £110.75 (from £105.70)
• Category C or D – non-contributory: £110.75 (from £105.70)

New Pension Credit rates

Standard minimum guarantee

• Single: £238.00 (from £227.10)
• Couple: £363.25 (from £346.60)

Additional amount for severe disability

• Single: £86.05 (from £82.90)
• Couple (one qualifies): £86.05 (from £82.90)
• Couple (both qualify): £172.10 (from £165.75)
• Additional amount for carers: £48.15 (from £46.40)

Comprehensive details on Additional State Pension, Widows Pension, increments and Invalidity Allowance can be found on GOV.UK.

State Pension and tax

Guidance on GOV.UK states: “You pay tax if your total annual income adds up to more than your Personal Allowance. Find out about your Personal Allowance and Income Tax rates.

Your total income could include:

• The State Pension you get – Basic or New State Pension
• Additional State Pension
• A private pension (workplace or personal) – you can take some of this tax-free
• Rarnings from employment or self-employment
• Any taxable benefits you get
• Any other income, such as money from investments, property or savings

Check if you have to pay tax on your pension

Before you can check, you will need to know:

• If you have a State Pension or a private pension
• How much State Pension and private pension income you will get this tax year (April 6 to April 5)
• The amount of any other taxable income you’ll get this tax year (for example, from employment or state benefits)

You cannot use this tool if you get:

• Any foreign income
• Marriage Allowance
• Blind Person’s Allowance

Use this online tool at GOV.UK to check if you have to pay tax on your pension. The full guide to tax when you get a pension can be found on GOV.UK here.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed it is rolling out a £1 billion-a-year ‘Pathways to Work Guarantee’ alongside a £240 million employment drive to help more disabled people find and stay in work

The Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) has confirmed it is rolling out a £1 billion-a-year ‘Pathways to Work Guarantee’ alongside a £240 million employment drive to help more disabled people find and stay in work.

Employment Minister Dame Diana Johnson outlined a series of measures that will help improve employment levels among disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.

In a written response to DUP MP Jim Shannon, who asked ‘what steps are being taken to boost disability employment, the DWP Minister highlighted a mix of existing support schemes and new long-term funding commitments designed to join up health, skills and job support.

£240m ‘Get Britain Working’ drive

Dame Diana said the ‘Get Britain Working White Paper’, launched in November 2024 and backed by £240 million, is aimed at tackling economic inactivity across the UK, reports the Daily Record.

The strategy focuses on people who are out of work due to health conditions or disability, with DWP arguing that “good work is good for health”.

Under the plans, disabled people and those with health conditions can access support including:

• Work Coaches in Jobcentres
• Disability Employment Advisers
• Access to Work grants for practical workplace support
• Employment Advisers embedded in NHS Talking Therapies
• Individual Placement and Support in primary care
• The WorkWell programme

The DWP also confirmed it is rolling out ‘Connect to Work’, a supported employment programme aimed at disabled people and those facing more complex barriers to employment.

£1bn-a-year ‘Pathways to Work Guarantee’

Dame Diana also referenced proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, which set out plans for a new Pathways to Work Guarantee. The guarantee is expected to be backed by £1 billion a year in additional funding by the end of the decade.

Once fully rolled out, the DWP said it anticipates the offer will include:

• A personalised support conversation
• One-to-one caseworker support
• Ongoing engagement
• Access to specialist long-term work, health and skills support

Dami Diana stated that the goal is to provide tailored assistance for disabled individuals and those with health conditions who are claiming out-of-work benefits.

Linking health and employment

The department also highlighted the UK Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, published in July, which aims to better integrate health services with employment support.

Under the proposals, local health services will collaborate more closely with job and skills systems to address the “multiple complex challenges” that can prevent individuals from entering or maintaining employment.

The Employment Minister noted that this cross-system approach acknowledges that barriers to employment often go beyond a person’s condition and can encompass broader social and economic factors.

The UK Government has consistently emphasised increasing levels of economic inactivity associated with long-term illness.

For disabled individuals already navigating the benefits system, the crucial question will be how these promises translate into practical, accessible support on the ground.

DWP minister Diana Johnson has announced employment support measures for workers over 50, including 50PLUS Champions and the Midlife MOT service.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a statement about significant changes impacting people within a particular age bracket. DWP minister Diana Johnson discussed upcoming changes that could influence people’s earnings.

The announcement followed a written parliamentary question from Reform UK MP Lee Anderson concerning what measures are being implemented “to help improve employment opportunities for older people”. Ms Johnson delivered the Government’s reply.

She said: “Work helps everyone play active and fulfilling roles in society whilst building financial security for retirement, and we recognise the wealth of skills and experience that older workers bring both to the workplace and the economy.

“We are committed to supporting workers over the age of 50 through a wide-ranging strategy that promotes age-inclusive employment practices, flexible working, and progression and career development.” She proceeded to outline the assistance available for anyone over this age, including anyone born prior to 1976, reports the Mirror.

Ms Johnson added: “We have a dedicated offer for older workers within jobcentres, including our 50PLUS Champions who provide a critical layer of support to ensure the needs of older jobseekers are met. We also offer a Midlife MOT, which helps people to review their health, finances and skills and signpost to suitable support.”

The Midlife MOT is a Government service available to people aged 45 to 65. It provides resources to help you think about your career, health and finances. On the money side, the service can help you budget for your retirement and look at what benefits you may be able to claim, such as Universal Credit or the state pension.

Increasing earnings

Ms Johnson also spoke about other support on offer. She said: “Our employer and partnership teams in jobcentres work with a range of employers and partners to enhance the skills and employment support available locally for customers.”

Looking ahead, the minister also spoke about what further help is being rolled out for older workers. She said: “As part of our plans to Get Britain working and create a new jobs and careers service, we are committed to reforming employment support to ensure it is inclusive and meets the needs of our customers.

“We are considering the support we offer to those aged 50 and over so that they can access support to find good, meaningful work, and help them progress in work or increase their earnings.”

You may wish to check what benefits you can claim using an online benefits calculator. You could try using the one on the Turn2us website.

When planning for your later life, you may wish to factor in how much you will receive with the state pension. The age at which you can access your private pensions is currently 55, though this is set to rise to 57 from April 2028.

Britons face a longer wait to claim their state pension, which becomes available when you reach 66. This access age is rising soon, increasing gradually from April 2026 to reach 67 by April 2028.

The full new state pension currently provides £230.25 a week, and you typically require 35 years of National Insurance contributions to receive this amount.

Payments increase each April in line with the triple lock, which will raise payments by 4.8% this April. You can check how much state pension you are on track to receive using the state pension forecast tool on the Government website.

Changes from April will halve the additional payment for new Universal Credit claimants with severe health conditions, as a Nottingham MP warns reforms must not become a ‘cost-cutting exercise’

A DWP minister has admitted that forthcoming changes to Universal Credit may “sound a bit hard” as a Nottingham MP asks the government not to exacerbate people’s difficulties.

From April, alterations will reduce by half the amount received by new Universal Credit claimants with severe health conditions.

The government says this is part of a wider package of measures designed to encourage the 2.8 million individuals unable to work due to illness or disability back into employment.

However, a Nottingham Labour MP who previously opposed her government’s welfare plans argues that its reforms should not merely be a “cost-cutting exercise.”

Stephen Timms, the Minister for Social Security and Disability, visited Mansfield on Thursday (February 19) to observe a service that has assisted over 500 disabled individuals into work in recent years.

At an employability conference at Portland College, Sir Stephen stated that the previous approach had essentially seen the DWP “abandon” those unable to work due to illness or disability.

Speaking to NottinghamshireLive, the minister said: “There’s 2.8 million people – far, far too many people at the moment – out of work because of a health problem or disability and we know that hundreds of thousands of those people would love to be in a job, so we are determined to make that aspiration possible.”

In addition to the standard Universal Credit allowance, those with severe health conditions preventing them from certain work activities receive an extra £423 a month.

One of the government’s changes will mean that from April, new claimants will only receive half of that amount.

The government says the benefit reduction will be accompanied by a rise in the standard Universal Credit allowance and a £1 billion package of employment support – including 1,000 work coaches being allocated in Job Centres, a Connect to Work scheme expanding to the East Midlands from next month and a Work Well programme linking the NHS into employment support coming to Nottinghamshire in November.

When questioned whether the benefits changes would be too drastic, Sir Stephen said: “It won’t be a cliff edge because anyone who’s in the old system at the moment will stay in there, they won’t have their benefit cut.

“It’ll be new people coming in who will find that the the lower premium is available for them.

“We’ll be matching that with the Pathways guarantee that they will get serious personalised support for moving back to work.”

Nottingham East’s Labour MP, Nadia Whittome, was amongst 49 Labour MPs to vote against the government’s welfare changes in July 2025.

Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit were the focus of the government’s original plans.

PIP is not linked to whether people can work or not, with the aim instead being to help claimants cover additional costs associated with being disabled or long-term sick.

People are assessed against ten different categories to determine whether they are eligible and how much they should receive. The government’s initial proposals would have made it more difficult for individuals to accumulate enough points to qualify for PIP.

Downing Street eventually conceded a series of reversals, including the announcement that any changes to PIP were being postponed until a review was conducted by Sir Stephen.

Regarding the government’s aim to increase employment among disabled people, Nadia Whittome stated: “There are many disabled and chronically ill people who would love to work but currently find this impossible for a number of reasons.

“The government is right to want to improve the support that it provides to disabled people, but it must be genuine support, rather than cuts to benefits which just make people’s lives harder.

“I was proud to work alongside disabled campaigners to successfully oppose the government’s proposed cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) last year.

“The review of PIP that was promised in its place must be co-produced with disabled people, must improve the support they receive and the experience of claiming PIP, and must not be a cost-cutting exercise.”

Speaking about the PIP review, Sir Stephen told Nottinghamshire Live: “Spending on PIP has rapidly increased, really since before the pandemic.

“We’ve got to make sure that we’re using those resources for the best possible impact to enable disabled people and people with long-term health problems to be independent, including if they’re up for it to be in work and to make sure that we’re removing barriers which have held people back in the past.

“We’re going to have recommendations by the autumn, I don’t know what’s going to be in those, but I’ve very much enjoyed the discussions we’ve had so far and I hope it’s going to be a really fruitful review.”

Six DWP benefits could make you eligible for free NHS dental treatment, including Universal Credit and Pension Credit

A visit to the dentist seldom features at the top of anyone’s list of preferred activities. And with routine check-ups generally setting you back £27.40, it’s hardly surprising that many individuals skip them altogether.

However, you may be interested to discover that certain individuals throughout England might be eligible for complimentary dental appointments and treatment via the NHS. This especially helps those within a particular age range and anyone in receipt of several key benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

We’ve looked into who is eligible for this and what steps you need to take. If you’ve previously paid for NHS dental treatment but subsequently discover you’re entitled to free care, you could also be due a refund, reports the Mirror.

Who’s entitled to free NHS dental appointments in England?

The NHS confirms there are five groups of individuals who automatically qualify for free NHS dental care. These specifically include the following:

• You’ve had a stillbirth in the past 12 months
• You’re getting treatment in an NHS hospital from a hospital dentist (but you may still need to pay for dentures or bridges)
• You receive War Pension Scheme payments, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability
• You’re aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
• You’re pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months

Additionally, you may be eligible if either you or your partner is in receipt of one of six specific benefits. Dependants under the age of 20 could also qualify, provided you’re claiming:

• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit
• Universal Credit – but only if your income is below a certain amount
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Keep in mind that these rules relate solely to NHS dental treatments. Should you choose private treatment, you’ll be responsible for the costs yourself.

Generally, you’ll also need to provide evidence of your eligibility for free NHS care, though this may differ depending on your exemption category.

Examples of documentation accepted by the NHS include: Nevertheless, official NHS guidance states: “If you receive War Pension Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and get free dental treatment, you’ll usually need to pay for it yourself first and claim the money back from Veterans UK.”

How do I verify my eligibility?

If you believe you may be entitled to free NHS dental treatment, visit the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website to find out. The platform offers a free eligibility checker, which typically takes approximately three minutes to complete.

Should you qualify, it will guide you through the next steps required to access support. Those who suspect they have been incorrectly charged for NHS dental appointments may be entitled to a refund.

What’s the NHS Low Income Scheme about?

Even if free dental care is unavailable to you, financial assistance may still be accessible through the NHS Low Income Scheme. This programme extends beyond dentistry, encompassing other essential costs such as prescriptions, eye examinations, wigs, and travel expenses relating to medical treatment.

The amount you are able to claim depends primarily upon your weekly income, savings, and essential outgoings at the time of your application. Online applications are limited to those with capital or savings under £6,000, and you must also satisfy at least one of the following criteria: The NHSBSA also offers the following guidance: “If the amount you have left is low, you may be able to get help through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Any help you’re entitled to is also available to your partner, if you have one.

“If you have already paid for treatment, you can apply for a refund at the same time as you apply for the scheme. We will normally assess your application within 18 working days from the date we get your form.”

For further details on the assistance on offer, visit the NHSBSA website.

Pension Credit is worth around £86 per week on average and also unlocks access to Winter Fuel Payment and other financial support

State pensioners are being encouraged to increase their income by approximately £86 per week through a single application to the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ).

Pension Credit offers pensioners on a low income additional funds to assist with living costs, worth around £86 a week on average, according to the DWP. It also unlocks a range of other financial assistance, including the Winter Fuel Payment, a Council Tax discount and support with heating bills, making it well worth applying for if you are eligible.

The DWP has this week reminded pensioners to check whether they qualify, as Cold Weather Payments have been made to almost 1.5 million households — a payment received automatically by those claiming Pension Credit.

The government launched a take-up campaign last year for Pension Credit, which helped increase the number of claimants, yet thousands may still be missing out on the support to which they are entitled, reports the Express.

The DWP stated this week: “Pensioners on low incomes can apply for Pension Credit, worth on average £86 a week on average, which also provides access to other support including help with housing costs and free NHS dental treatment.

“The Government’s biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign has seen thousands more pensioners claim the support they are entitled to.

“A new trial to boost take up in partnership with Age UK and Independent Age ran last year with letters sent to 2,000 pensioners identified as being the most likely to be eligible for Pension Credit but not currently claiming the benefit.”

Pension Credit is available to those who have reached State Pension age in England, Scotland or Wales and are on a low income. It supplements your weekly earnings up to £227.10 if you are single, or your combined weekly income to £346.60 if you have a partner, though these figures are set to rise by 4.8% from April.

From the beginning of the new tax year, the Pension Credit standard minimum guarantee will increase from £227.10 per week to £238, providing single claimants with an additional £10.90 per week, equating to an annual uplift of £566.80.

The joint rate is also set to climb, moving from £346.60 per week to £363.25, giving couples an extra £16.65 per week, or £865.80 more each year.

When submitting a claim, your income is assessed and takes into account your State Pension, any additional pensions, earnings from both employment and self-employment, and most social security benefits.

The DWP’s Pension Credit calculator can provide an estimate of your potential entitlement, and applications can be submitted up to four months before reaching State Pension age.

Whilst applications can be made at any point after reaching State Pension age, backdating is limited to three months, meaning your first payment may include up to three months’ worth of Pension Credit if you were eligible throughout that period.

Pension Credit is paid separately to the State Pension and if you’re eligible to claim it, it also unlocks access to help with housing costs, Council Tax discounts, the Winter Fuel Payment, NHS treatment costs, and a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over.

Pensions Minister Torsten Bell said at the end of last year: “We’re committed to supporting harder-up pensioners however we can. Pension Credit is a simple way to give those who need it the most some extra support with bills or a free TV licence.

“I’d urge anyone who thinks they, or anyone they know, might be able to claim Pension Credit, to take a few minutes out of their day to check and apply. This country’s pensioners deserve every penny they are entitled to.”

Some people in England are entitled to free NHS dental care including those on Universal Credit, Pension Credit and other key benefits

Visiting the dentist isn’t exactly everyone’s favourite activity. And with routine check-ups typically costing £27.40, it’s easy to see why many individuals skip them altogether.

However, you may be surprised to discover that certain people living in England could be eligible for free dental appointments and treatments via the NHS. This particularly applies to those within a particular age range and anyone in receipt of several key benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ).

Below, The Express has explored who is eligible for this and what steps you can take next. If you’ve paid for NHS dental treatment but discover you are entitled to free appointments, you may also be eligible for a refund.

Who can receive free NHS dental appointments and treatment in England?

According to the NHS, there are five categories of individuals who automatically qualify for complimentary NHS dental care. These specifically include the following:

• You’ve had a stillbirth in the past 12 months
• You’re getting treatment in an NHS hospital from a hospital dentist (but you may still need to pay for dentures or bridges)
• You receive War Pension Scheme payments, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability
• You’re aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
• You’re pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months

In addition to this, you might qualify if you or your partner is in receipt of at least one of six benefits. Dependants under 20 years old may benefit from this as well, provided you are claiming:

• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit
• Universal Credit – but only if your income is below a certain amount
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

It’s important to remember that these rules only apply to NHS dental treatments.

If you opt for private care, you’ll be liable for the cost. Usually, you’ll also need to provide proof of eligibility for free NHS care, although this may differ depending on your exemption basis.

Examples of evidence accepted by the NHS include:

• A valid maternity exemption certificate
• A maternity certificate (MatB1)
• A notification of birth form, or your baby’s birth certificate
• A stillbirth certificate
• A valid HC2 certificate – available for people on a low income
• Your birth certificate

However, official NHS guidance states: “If you receive War Pension Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and get free dental treatment, you’ll usually need to pay for it yourself first and claim the money back from Veterans UK.”

How can I confirm my eligibility?

If you believe you’re eligible for free NHS dental care, visit the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website to verify. The site offers a free eligibility check that typically takes about three minutes to complete.

If you’re eligible, it will guide you through the steps to claim support. Anyone who thinks they have been incorrectly charged for NHS dental appointments could be entitled to a refund.

What is the NHS Low Income Scheme?

Even if you don’t qualify for free dental care, you might still be able to receive financial help through the NHS Low Income Scheme. This scheme not only covers dental visits but also helps with other essential costs like prescriptions, eye tests, wigs, and travel expenses for treatment.

The amount you’re eligible to receive largely depends on your weekly income, savings, and essential outgoings at the time of application. You can only apply online if you have no capital or savings exceeding £6,000, and must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Receiving state benefits
• Living in a care home
• A pensioner
• A student
• Earning a wage

Guidance from the NHSBSA states: “If the amount you have left is low, you may be able to get help through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Any help you’re entitled to is also available to your partner, if you have one.

“If you have already paid for treatment, you can apply for a refund at the same time as you apply for the scheme. We will normally assess your application within 18 working days from the date we get your form.”

For further details on the support available, visit the NHSBSA website here.