State pensioners can get 9 freebies and discounts worth £13,889 in April | Personal Finance | Finance

State pensioners across the UK can boost their income by up to £13,889.10 from April, with nine freebies and discounts available from the government as a raft of bill increases kick in. The money is available via Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits designed to help struggling households, potentially giving eligible claimants thousands of pounds worth of support.

While April will usher in a swathe of benefit increases as the new financial year begins, this month also marks the beginning of several hikes to household bills. Mobile, broadband, water and Council Tax bills are all rising from April 1, and while Ofgem’s energy price cap will fall by 7%, reducing the average household bill by £117 per year, the reprise is expected to be short lived as bills are forecast to rise by £332 per year from July, affecting millions of households on the standard variable rate.

But these price hikes come ahead of increases to benefits and pensions from April 6, which will put a bit of extra cash back into pockets. State Pension rates will rise by 4.8% from April 6, giving some pensioners up to £575 extra per year, and some may also be entitled to claim additional financial support to boost their income further.

Eligible pensioners can claim one DWP benefit that can unlock a raft of freebies and discounts worth up around £13,889.10 on average. Pension Credit provides pensioners on a low income with extra money to help with living costs and, according to the DWP, it’s worth more than £3,900 per year.

But the benefit also opens the doors to a wealth of other financial support, including a Council Tax discount, help with heating bills, a free TV licence if you’re over 75, and help with NHS treatment costs, among others, so it’s well worth checking if you qualify.

Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist at Royal London, said: “Pension Credit is a valuable benefit because it is a ‘gateway’ benefit. That means, if you’re able to claim it, you may also be able to get help with housing costs (through Council Tax discount and Housing Benefit or Support for Mortgage Interest).

“You’re also eligible for a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over and you may be able to get help with NHS dental treatment, prescriptions and transport costs.

“If you’re entitled to these benefits, the state help you get could be very valuable and that could make a real difference to your finances. However, hundreds of thousands of people are missing out on Pension Credit. Our research showed that two in five people over State Pension age hadn’t checked to see if they were entitled to Pension Credit.”

So if you’re in need of a financial boost this month, it’s worth checking your eligibility for Pension Credit – plus one other DWP benefit – as it could unlock up to £13,889.10 worth of financial support. Listed are nine freebies and discounts pensioners could claim in April.

As of April 6, Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £238 if you’re single or your joint weekly income to £363.25 if you have a partner. You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached State Pension age to qualify for Pension Credit, and it is worth over £3,900 per year on average according to the DWP.

If you are entitled to Pension Credit, the benefit also unlocks a wealth of other freebies and discounts which means you could also get the following:

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.

Anyone aged 75 and over and claiming Pension Credit can get £180 off their TV Licence bill, cutting it down to £0. As of April 1, the annual fee is now £180, up from £174.50, marking an increase of £5.50 per year for households, so it’s worth checking if you can get it for free. For households with a black and white TV set, the annual fee is now £60.50, up from £58.50.

Pension Credit claimants can 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.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, prescriptions are already free for everyone, but in England charges apply in some cases.

For those who do have to pay, the NHS prescription charge is remaining frozen at £9.90 for the 2026/27 tax year. The cost of an NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) will also remain as £32.05 for three months, or £114.50 for 12 months.

But free prescriptions are available in England to children under 16, young people aged 16 to 18 in full-time educations, and adults aged 60 or over. And if you get the Guarantee Credit element Pension Credit you’re also entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you live in England. This entitlement also covers your partner if they’re included in your claim.

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’ MSE, this could be worth up to £215, depending on your prescription.

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.

Pension Credit claimants are entitled to a discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you’re moving house. The service normally costs £87 for up to 12 months for a single adult household, but you’ll pay a concessionary rate of £62 if you get Pension Credit – giving you a saving of £25.

You can start an application for Pension Credit up to four months before you reach State Pension age 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.

Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you and from April 6, it is worth £76.90 per week if you get the lower rate or £114.60 per week if you get the higher rate.

If you have a severe disability which means you require regular assistance day and night, you could claim the higher amount and there are around 56 categories of conditions which could make you eligible. If you get the higher rate this could be worth up to £5,959.20 per year.