United Kingdom Pension Credit: Guarantee Credit
Guarantee Credit tops up income rather than paying the standard minimum as a flat award. The published weekly minimum differs for a single person and a couple.
On this page
- Single person
- £238.00 per week in 2026–27.
- Couple
- £363.25 joint weekly amount in 2026–27.
The 2026–27 standard minimum
DWP’s 2026–27 rates table lists the Pension Credit standard minimum guarantee as £238.00 a week for a single person and £363.25 a week for a couple. The table states that rates are weekly unless otherwise specified. DWP, Benefit and pension rates (opens in a new tab).
The Pension Credit guidance describes a top-up of weekly income to £238 for a single person or joint weekly income to £363.25 for someone with a partner. The couple amount is for joint income, rather than an amount for each partner. DWP, Pension Credit amounts (opens in a new tab).
The minimum is not a flat payment
The top-up and any extra amounts are called Guarantee Credit. Extra amounts may be available for other responsibilities and costs, including severe disability, caring and responsibility for children or young people. DWP, Pension Credit amounts (opens in a new tab).
GOV.UK treats Savings Credit separately from Guarantee Credit and states that entitlement depends on reaching State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and having saved some money for retirement. A person can still get Savings Credit without Guarantee Credit. DWP, Pension Credit amounts (opens in a new tab).
Income and eligibility boundaries
DWP assesses income when a claim is made and combines partners’ income. State Pension, other pensions, employment and self-employment earnings, and most social security benefits count as income. Not all benefits count. DWP, Pension Credit eligibility (opens in a new tab).
The GOV.UK eligibility page covers people living in England, Scotland or Wales who have reached State Pension age, with separate partner conditions. It directs people in Northern Ireland to separate guidance. DWP, Pension Credit eligibility (opens in a new tab).
Scope
This is general information adapted from government material under the Open Government Licence v3.0, without endorsement or a recommendation. It does not assess individual entitlement or liability. No matching calculator or worked example is available here.