Website of the UK government

Pension Credit

If you're 60 or over you may be entitled to Pension Credit – extra money to top up your income. It's made up of two elements – the 'guarantee credit' element and the 'Savings Credit' element (which may be payable from age 65).

• Pension Credit (money, tax and benefits section)

Pension Credit and free school meals

Children whose parents, carers or guardians receive the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit are entitled to free school meals or milk. The education department of your local authority must provide free school meals to eligible students where requested.

• Pension Credit and free school meals

Cold Weather Payment

You may be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment to help with extra heating costs during periods of very cold weather. Payments are made automatically – you don't need to claim.

• Cold Weather Payment (money, tax and benefits section)

Winter Fuel Payment

You may be able to get a payment to help with fuel bills if you're aged 60 or over and normally live in the UK during the relevant qualifying week (there are some exceptions).

There will be an additional payment for winter 2008/09 of £50 for households with someone aged 60-79 and £100 for households with someone aged 80 or over. This will be paid alongside the Winter Fuel Payment.

• Winter Fuel Payment (money, tax and benefits section)

The Social Fund

The Social Fund provides one-off payments and interest-free loans to help with expenses in certain situations.

Crisis Loans

Crisis Loans are interest-free loans if you need financial help with an emergency or disaster.

• Crisis Loans (money, tax and benefits section)

Budgeting Loans

Budgeting Loans may be provided to help people on a low income to pay for things like furniture, clothes and travel.

• Budgeting Loans (money, tax and benefits section)

Community Care Grants

If you need financial help to live independently in the community or to ease exceptional pressure on you or your family, you may be eligible for a Community Care Grant. You don't have to pay it back.

• Community Care Grants (money, tax and benefits section)

Funeral Payments

If you need financial help to pay for a funeral you're arranging, you may be able to get a one-off Funeral Payment. You might have to repay some or all of it from the estate of the person who died.

• Funeral Payments (money, tax and benefits section)

Veterans' benefits and pensions

Anyone who has served in the UK Armed forces, including widows, widowers and their dependants, may be entitled to help with pensions, health, employment and other payments.

• Veterans' benefits and pensions

Help for people who have lost out on a pension

If you've lost out on a pension or your company becomes insolvent with insufficient funds in its pension scheme, there may be a way to access your pension.

• What to do if your company pension scheme can't pay your pension (money, tax and benefits section)

More useful links

• Benefits before retirement
• Money and tax in retirement (money, tax and benefits section)
• On a low income (money, tax and benefits section)
• Money when caring for someone (money, tax and benefits section)