Single state pensioners on low incomes can get a cash boost of up to £47.23 extra in July following a payment uplift which kicked in this year.

The start of the 2026/27 tax year ushered in a swathe of increases to benefits and pensions paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with claimants continuing to reap the benefits of these uplifts next month – and every month that follows until next April. Among the benefits to increase was Pension Credit, which can be claimed by people in England, Scotland or Wales who have reached State Pension age. Pension Credit rates increased by 4.8% on April 6, in line with the State Pension, giving eligible claimants a welcome boost of extra cash.

The increase means Pension Credit now tops up your weekly income to £238 if you’re single, up from £227.10 per week previously. Across the full 2026/27 tax year, this amounts to a £566.80 increase for single claimants, which averages £47.23 per month across a 12-month period.

So if you start claiming from July, single pensioners could get up to £47.23 extra cash every month in the current tax year under the new higher rates.

Of course, this figure is the average maximum amount per month, but as Pension Credit is a top-up to your weekly income, the exact amount you’ll get may differ based on individual circumstances.

Pension Credit is paid by the DWP every four weeks and is a separate payment to the State Pension. You can claim it even if you have other income, savings or you own your own home, and according to the DWP, it’s now worth £4,300 per year on average.

But it’s not just the higher 2026/27 rates that make Pension Credit worth claiming, as the benefit also unlocks access to a wealth of other financial perks, including help with housing costs, a council tax reduction, free TV licences and help with NHS treatment costs, among others.

Confirming the State Pension and Pension Credit increases from April 6, the DWP said: “The government has already delivered above-inflation increases worth up to £395 in real terms over this Parliament. By its end, pensioners’ annual incomes are expected to rise by up to £2,100 – boosting financial security for millions.

“Pension Credit will also rise by 4.8% and be worth an average of £4,300 a year, unlocking further support including help with housing costs, council tax and free television licenses. Between 2026 and 2027, the government will provide a £6 billion boost to spending on State Pensions and pensioner benefits.”

The DWP launched a trial at the end of last year in a bid to boost pension credit take up after analysis showed large regional disparities, with uptake lowest in the south west.

At the time, Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell said: “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.”

When you apply for pension credit, your income is calculated, which includes your state pension, other pensions, earnings from employment and self-employment and most social security benefits.

You can use the DWP’s Pension Credit calculator to get an estimate of how much you could get and you can start your application up to four months before you reach state pension age.

You can apply any time after you reach state pension age but your application can only be backdated by three months, so you’ll get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.