Archive Website of the UK government

Veterans' benefits and pensions

Anyone who has served in Her Majesty’s forces, including their widows, widowers and dependants, may be entitled to help. This includes pensions, health, employment and other payments.

• Veterans' benefits and pensions

Understanding Pension Credit

If you're a pensioner living in Great Britain, you may be entitled to Pension Credit 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).

The age from which you may be able to get the Guarantee Credit is gradually increasing in line with women’s State Pension age. To find out the age when you may be able to apply for Pension Credit, you can use the State Pension age calculator.

• Pension Credit - introduction

• State Pension age calculator Opens new window

Changes to State Pension age

The State Pension age is increasing. To find out more see ‘Calculating your State Pension age’.

• Calculating your State Pension age

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.

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

Winter Fuel Payment

You may get a Winter Fuel Payment to help with fuel bills. You must have reached the qualifying age by the end of the third week of September. The age from which you can get Winter Fuel Payment – the qualifying age – is increasing in line with the State Pension age for women.

To find out the age when you can get Winter Fuel Payment, you can use the State Pension age calculator. The tax-free annual benefit is normally paid from November - most payments are made automatically by Christmas.

• Winter Fuel Payment

• State Pension age calculator Opens new window

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)

Community Care Grants

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

• Community Care Grants (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)

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)

Help for people who have lost out on a pension

If you have lost out on a pension or your company can't fund 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

• On a low income (money, tax and benefits section)

• Money when caring for someone (money, tax and benefits section)

Useful contacts

• Veterans contacts

• Retirement contacts

• Financial advice and support contacts

• Over 50s contacts