MILLIONS on pension credit and a state pension can claim 10 freebies and discounts in June to help with the cost of living.
People on either two of the benefits can grab the perks through a number of Government and company schemes.
Pension credit is paid to those in England, Wales or Scotland who are state pension age but on a low income.
It tops up payments to a minimum of £218.15 per week for a single pensioner and £332.95 for couples.
Meanwhile, the state pension is a weekly payment from the Government to men and women aged 66 and over.
It is designed to give anyone a retirement income to support them as they get older and are less likely to be able to work.
The state pension amount rises every year to keep up with the cost of living under the triple lock mechanism.
The triple lock system sees the state pension rise in line with whatever is highest out of: wages for May to July, 2.5% or September’s inflation figures.
However, anyone receiving pension credit or a state pension may need extra help to boost their income.
Luckily, there are a number of freebies and discounts you can get if you are on either of the two in June.
1. Free prescriptions – £118
Once you reach 60, you can get free prescriptions from your local pharmacy – these usually cost £9.90 each in England.
If you buy a single prescription every month that means you could save £118.80 over the course of the year.
This benefit is automatic and there’s no need to apply.
If you’re 60 or over you’re also entitled to a free NHS sight test, so you should let your optician know when you reach 60 if you haven’t already.
Eye tests can usually cost between £20 and £30.
2. Free dental treatment – £282
If you’re on the pension credit guarantee credit element you can get free dental treatment through the NHS.
Again, you receive this automatically if you’re eligible and don’t need to apply.
If you are on the pension credit guarantee credit with savings credit element, you’re not automatically entitled to free NHS dental treatment, but you can apply for the NHS Low Income Scheme.
How much you can get off depends on your income and circumstances, including your outgoings and any savings you have.
You can find out more about the NHS low income scheme here, including who qualifies and how to apply.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
3. Free TV Licence – £169
One major perk of pension credit is that you don’t have to pay for your TV licence once you reach a certain age.
You can apply for the freebie if you are 75 or older.
A TV licence ordinarily costs £169.50 a year, after it rose to £169.50 in April– an increase of £10.50.
So it’s well worth looking into whether you can claim the discount.
You will need to apply for a free TV licence online, or by calling 0300 790 6117 between 8.30am and 6.30pm between Monday and Friday.
Broadband and TV expert at Uswitch Nick Baker previously called claiming a free licence a “no-brainer”.
4. Council tax discount – up to £2,171
The average Band D council tax set by local authorities in England for 2024-25 is £2,171.
But if you’re on pension credit you can apply for a discount or reduction of up to 100% on the essential bill.
If you don’t get guarantee credit but you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings, you may still get some help.
But what help you can get varies depending on where you live in England.
You should get in touch with your local council for more details.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool.
5. Social tariffs – £234
Social tariffs are broadband and mobile phone packages available to people on certain benefits, including pension credit.
They work in the same way as normal tariffs except you are offered a discounted rate.
Applying for social tariffs varies depending on which provider you decide to go with.
Firms offer different packages as well, so it’s worth shopping around for the best deal via comparison sites like Uswitch and Go Compare.
It is estimated those on benefits can save up to £234 a year on their broadband bills by opting for a social tariff.
6. Discounted water bills – £160
Every water company has a social tariff scheme which can reduce your bills if you’re on a local income, or receiving a benefit like pension credit.
It could help you slash your bills by £160 a year too.
But who’s eligible for help and the level of support varies depending on your water company.
Make sure you contact your water company to find out what you could be entitled to.
Customers of Thames Water, England’s largest water company, may be able to get a 50% discount on bills if their total household income is below £17,005, or below £21,749 in London boroughs.
7. Free insulation and boiler grants – £1,000s
If you claim pension credit, you may be able to get free cavity wall and loft insulation from your energy supplier through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).
You may also be eligible for a free new boiler too, if your current one is broken.
You’ll be eligible for the ECO scheme if you qualify for the Warm Home Discount scheme or you receive one of a number of benefits including:
- Child Benefit
- Pension guarantee credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Tax Credits (Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits)
- Universal Credit
- Housing benefit
- Pension credit saving credit
If you think you’re eligible, you can contact your local council to find out if they’re taking part in the scheme.
Alternatively, you can contact your energy supplier directly.
You can find contact details of suppliers who are taking part in the scheme on the Ofgem website.
8. Free bus pass – £128
If you live in England, you can get a bus pass for free travel when you reach state pension age.
Plus, if you live in London, you can travel free on buses, tubes and other transport when you’re 60, but only within London.
In Wales, you can get a bus pass when you reach 60.
Residents in Scotland and Northern Ireland get an older person’s bus pass when they turn 60.
You can apply for the pass via your local council’s website which will have more information.
Make sure to check the website or phone your local council if you have any questions.
How much you save will depend on how much you use the pass.
But the average person with a concessionary bus pass made 64 journeys in the year to March 2023.
That’s the equivalent to an annual saving of a £128, with the average bus ticket currently costing £2.
9. Football discounts – up to £295
Watching your favourite football team can be pretty costly, especially if they’re in the Premier League.
But many clubs in the UK offers discounts for people over the age of 65.
For example, Newcastle United offers over 65s a 20% discount on the standard price of a ticket.
Meanwhile, Arsenal fans aged 66 and over can get a 57% discount off seasons tickets for the 2024/25 season.
10. Cheap days out – save £100s
People aged over 60 can get discounted days out and cinema tickets.
If you’re an existing National Trust member aged 60 or over, and you’ve been a member for at least the last three years, you can ask for 25% off your subscription.
This means that you’ll pay £68.40 for individual senior membership and £113.40 for joint senior membership.
Odeon also holds weekly Silver Cinema screenings for over-60s with ticket prices starting at £3.50.
The cinema chain also provides free refreshments too.
You can find your nearest branches using the locator tool on the website.
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