Benefits for Over 60s in the UK: What You're Entitled To (2026)

Once you are in your 60s, you may be able to get more help than you think. Some support starts at 60, such as free NHS prescriptions in England. Other help starts at State Pension age, which depends on when you were born. Many benefits are linked, so claiming one can lead to others.

This guide explains the main benefits and concessions for over 60s in the UK, with the 2026/27 rates from GOV.UK, and tells you where to check and claim.

State Pension: the starting point

You can claim the State Pension when you reach State Pension age. You can check your State Pension age and get a forecast on GOV.UK. You do not get it automatically. You have to claim it.

The full rate of the new State Pension is £241.30 a week in 2026/27. The amount you get depends on your National Insurance record. You usually need 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension. If your National Insurance record started after April 2016, you need 35 qualifying years for the full amount. People who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 get the basic State Pension under the old rules.

Winter Fuel Payment: help with heating

For winter 2026 to 2027, you could get £100 to £300 if you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Most people get it automatically. If your total income is over £35,000, HMRC will take the payment back through your tax. In Scotland, you cannot get the Winter Fuel Payment, but you might get Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead. Read our full Winter Fuel Payment guide.

Pension Credit: extra money on a low income

Pension Credit is for people over State Pension age on a low income. It is separate from the State Pension. The main part, Guarantee Credit, tops up your weekly income to:

• £238 if you are single
• £363.25 if you have a partner

You may get extra if you are severely disabled (£86.05 a week), care for another adult (£48.15 a week), or are responsible for a child. If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and saved for retirement, you might also get Savings Credit of up to £17.96 a week (single) or £20.10 (couple). Savings of £10,000 or less do not affect Pension Credit.

Pension Credit matters because it opens the door to other help, such as Housing Benefit, a Council Tax Reduction, Cold Weather Payments, the Warm Home Discount and a free TV licence at 75. It is worth checking even if you think you will not qualify. Our article on pensioners missing out on DWP payments explains more.

Health costs: what is free

• Prescriptions: In England, NHS prescriptions are free once you are 60.
• Eye tests: You are entitled to a free NHS sight test if you are 60 or over.
• Flu vaccine: The NHS offers a free flu vaccine to people aged 65 or over, and to some younger people, such as those with certain long-term health conditions or who are the main carer for an older or disabled person.
• Dental treatment, glasses and travel to hospital: You can get help with these if you get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit. NHS dental care is not free just because of your age. See our guide to dental care for over 60s.

Free and cheaper travel

• Bus pass: In England you get a free bus pass at State Pension age. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, you can get one at 60.
• London: If you live in London, you can travel free on buses, the Tube and other transport from 60, but only within London.
• Senior Railcard: If you are 60 or over, you can save a third on most rail fares. It costs £35 for a year or £80 for three years.

Attendance Allowance: help if you need care

If you are State Pension age or older and need help with personal care because of a disability or health condition, you could get Attendance Allowance. It is paid at two rates in 2026/27:

• £76.70 a week (lower rate) if you need frequent help or supervision during the day, or supervision at night
• £114.60 a week (higher rate) if you need help day and night, or a medical professional has said you are nearing the end of life

It is not means-tested. You do not need to have a carer to claim it. Getting Attendance Allowance could also mean extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. In Scotland, you apply for Pension Age Disability Payment instead.

TV licence

If you are 75 or over and you get Pension Credit, or you live with a partner who does, you can get a free TV licence. If you live in eligible residential care or sheltered housing and are retired and over 60, or disabled, you can get a TV licence for £7.50.

Other help worth checking

1. Council Tax Reduction: If you are on a low income or claim benefits, your bill could be cut by up to 100%. Each council runs its own scheme.
2. Housing Benefit: If you rent and have reached State Pension age, you can still make a new claim for Housing Benefit.
3. Support for Mortgage Interest: If you get a qualifying benefit such as Pension Credit, you may get help with mortgage interest. It is paid as a loan, which you repay with interest when you sell or transfer your home.
4. Cold Weather Payment: If you get Pension Credit, you will usually get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027. Scotland has a different scheme.
5. Warm Home Discount: A one-off £150 off your electricity bill if you qualify, for example because you get Pension Credit. See our Warm Home Discount guide.
6. Blue Badge: If you have mobility problems, a Blue Badge lets you park closer to where you need to go. It costs up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland, and is free in Wales.
7. Carer's Allowance: If you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits, you could get £86.45 a week. Read our guide to help for carers.
8. Local discounts: Many councils, leisure centres, cinemas and attractions offer concessions to older people. Ask before you pay.

Each benefit has its own rules. Age UK, Citizens Advice and Independent Age can check what you could get, for free.

How National Insurance affects your State Pension

National Insurance contributions build up your right to the State Pension and some other benefits.

Qualifying years

• A qualifying year is a year in which you worked and paid National Insurance, got National Insurance credits (for example, because you were unemployed, ill, a parent or a carer), or paid voluntary contributions.
• You usually need at least 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension.
• If your National Insurance record started after April 2016, you need 35 qualifying years for the full amount. If you were "contracted out" before 2016, you will usually need more.

Filling gaps

• You can check your National Insurance record online to see any gaps and whether paying would help.
• Voluntary Class 3 contributions cost £18.40 a week in 2026/27. You can usually only pay for the past 6 years.
• Voluntary contributions do not always increase your State Pension, so check your forecast or call the Future Pension Centre before you pay.
• You may be able to get credits instead of paying. See our guide to National Insurance credits.

If you have lived or worked abroad, this can affect your record, and you may be able to claim pensions from other countries too.

Winter Fuel Payment: do you need to claim?

Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically. You do not need to claim if you get the State Pension, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Carer's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, income-related ESA, or certain other benefits.

If you do not get any of these, you need to claim if you have not had the payment before, or if you have deferred your State Pension since your last payment. For winter 2026 to 2027, you can claim by post from 21 September 2026 or by phone from 19 October 2026. The deadline is 31 March 2027.

You may not be eligible if you were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the qualifying week (21 to 27 September 2026) and the year before, were in prison for that whole week, or live in a care home and get Pension Credit, Universal Credit or income-related ESA (and lived there from 29 June 2026 or earlier). If you live in a care home, see our article on the State Pension and care homes.

In summary

Start by checking your State Pension forecast and whether you could get Pension Credit, because it unlocks so much other help. Then make sure you are using free prescriptions, eye tests and travel concessions. If you or someone you love needs care, Attendance Allowance is not means-tested and is often missed. Our paying for care guide explains how this fits with care costs.

Useful links

• Age UK: benefits and entitlements
• GOV.UK: State Pension
• Citizens Advice: benefits
• GOV.UK: check your National Insurance record

Feature image photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels

Sources

• The new State Pension (GOV.UK)
• Check your State Pension forecast (GOV.UK)
• Winter Fuel Payment (GOV.UK)
• Pension Credit (GOV.UK)
• Am I entitled to free NHS prescriptions? (NHS Business Services Authority)
• Free NHS eye tests and optical vouchers (NHS)
• Flu vaccine (NHS)
• Apply for an older person's bus pass (GOV.UK)
• Senior Railcard (Rail Delivery Group)
• Attendance Allowance (GOV.UK)
• Get a free or discounted TV licence (GOV.UK)
• Apply for Council Tax Reduction (GOV.UK)
• Housing Benefit (GOV.UK)
• Support for Mortgage Interest (GOV.UK)
• Cold Weather Payment (GOV.UK)
• Warm Home Discount Scheme (GOV.UK)
• Apply for or renew a Blue Badge (GOV.UK)
• Carer's Allowance (GOV.UK)
• Voluntary National Insurance (GOV.UK)
• Check your National Insurance record (GOV.UK)