£14,970 worth of freebies and discounts state pensioners can claim in November

An array of freebies and discounts worth up to £14,9710 are available to boost state pensioners incomes across the UK from November thanks to several Government schemes.

November marks the decent into the winter period which always proves to be an expensive time of the year, with Christmas present buying and heating costs to contend with. But there is help available to help ease the financial strain, including some Government winter schemes which will kick in from this month. These include the Winter Fuel Payment, the Warm Home Discount Scheme and Cold Weather Payments, all of which can provide some much needed relief from eye-watering energy costs.

Additionally, low income pensioners can also get support through some Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits, including Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit, with the latter also opening the door to a much wider array of financial perks, such as a Council Tax discount and a free TV licence if you're over 75.

According to the latest DWP statistics, the 2025 to 2026 financial year saw a 34% decrease in Pension Credit applications compared with the previous year, suggesting that many pensioners are still missing out on support to which they are entitled.

The DWP launches a new drive to boost Pension Credit take-up in October, sending out letters to 660,000 households with a high proportion of low-income pensioners with advice on how to apply.

Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell said: "Far too many pensioners are missing out on support they’re entitled to. Pension Credit is worth more than £4,500 a year on average and can make a real difference to people’s finances, while also opening the door to help with bills and other everyday costs.

"If you think you might be eligible, it’s worth checking. We want to make sure pensioners get the support they’re entitled to and don’t miss out on money that could help them in retirement."

So if you’re in need of a financial boost this month, it’s worth checking your eligibility for Pension Credit – plus one other DWP benefit – as it could unlock up to £14,970.10 worth of financial support. Listed are 12 freebies and discounts pensioners could be eligible to claim from November.

Pension Credit - £4,500

In the 2026 to 2027 tax year, Pension Credit can top up your weekly income to £238 if you’re single or your joint weekly income to £363.25 if you have a partner.

You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and have reached State Pension age to qualify and according to the DWP, the benefit is now worth an average of £4,500 per year.

If you're entitled to Pension Credit, claiming it can also unlock access to a wealth of other freebies and discounts which means you could also get the following:

Housing Benefit - £1,000

If you rent your home and you get the Guarantee element of Pension Credit then you’re eligible for the maximum Housing Benefit entitlement from your local council. This isn’t a fixed amount, but Martin Lewis’ MSE says you could get around £1,000 per year, and potentially have your rent paid in full.

Free TV Licence - £180

Anyone aged 75 and over and claiming Pension Credit can get £180 off their TV Licence bill, cutting it down to £0. As of April 1, the annual fee is £180, up from £174.50 in 2025, which equates to a £5.50 annual increase per household, so it's worth checking whether you can get it for free. For households with a black and white TV set, the annual fee is now £60.50, up from £58.50 previously.

Council Tax discount - £1,600

Pension Credit claimants can get a Council Tax discount. The exact amount you’ll get depends on your local council, but it can be anything from around £300 for a 25% reduction on a typical Band D bill up to around £1,600 for a 100% discount.

Free NHS prescriptions - £9.90

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, prescriptions are already free for everyone, but in England, charges apply in some cases.

For those who do have to pay, the NHS prescription charge is remaining frozen at £9.90 for the 2026/27 tax year. The cost of an NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) will also remain at £32.05 for three months, or £114.50 for 12 months.

But free prescriptions are available in England to children under 16, young people aged 16 to 18 in full-time education, and adults aged 60 or over. And if you get the Guarantee Credit element Pension Credit, you're also entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you live in England. This entitlement also covers your partner if they're included in your claim.

Free eye care - up to £215

If you get any of the Guarantee element of Pension Credit then you are entitled to help with NHS eye care, including a voucher for glasses or contact lenses. According to Martin Lewis’ MSE, this could be worth up to £215, depending on your prescription.

Free NHS dental treatment - up to £1,000

Pensioners who qualify for the Guarantee element of Pension Credit are also entitled to free NHS dental treatment, including anything from a simple check up to full dentures. According to Martin Lewis’ MSE, this could amount to up to £1,000 worth of free treatment per year.

Royal Mail redirection discount - £31

Pension Credit claimants are entitled to a discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you’re moving house. The service normally costs £95 for up to 12 months for a single adult household, but you’ll pay a concessionary rate of £64 if you get Pension Credit - giving you a saving of £31.

You can start an application for Pension Credit up to four months before you reach State Pension age and any time after, but your application can only be backdated by three months. You can apply online via GOV.UK or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.

Winter Fuel Payment - £300

State pensioners who were born on or before June 27, 1960, and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland can get a Winter Fuel Payment from the DWP.

The payment is worth between £100 and £300, with the amount you get determined by your age and your circumstances during the qualifying week between September 21 to 27, 2026.

According to the eligibility criteria for this winter, those who live alone and were born between September 28, 1946 and June 27, 1960, will get a £200 payment, while those who live alone and were born before September 28, 1946 will get £300.

If you live with someone else who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment your payment may be different and will range between £100 and £300.

Most pensioners will get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible and the DWP will issue payments in November and December.

Warm Home Discount - £150

The Warm Home Discount Scheme reopened in October to provide eligible households a £150 discount off their electricity bills. In England and Wales, low income pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit will be eligible, as well as households getting Housing Benefit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and Universal Credit – the same cohort as last winter. If you live in Scotland, you'll also qualify if you or your partner:

• get Pension Credit

• get an extra amount of Universal Credit because you or your child has a disability or health condition

• get a disability premium or a pensioner premium of income-related Employment Support Allowance

• get a disability premium or a pensioner premium and have a Support for Mortgage Interest loan.

The discount is applied to bills by energy suppliers rather than straight into your bank account, and you’ll get it automatically if you’re eligible.

Cold Weather Payment - £25

If the temperature where you live drops to 0C or below for seven consecutive days, you’ll be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment worth £25 this winter.

While these payments aren’t available to all state pensioners, you can get them if you’re claiming Pension Credit, so those on low incomes will benefit if the weather turns particularly chilly later this year.

You’ll get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 1, 2026 and March 31, 2026, and if eligible, these payments will be issued to you automatically.

Attendance Allowance - up to £5,959.20

Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you and in the 2026 to 2027 tax year, it's worth £76.90 per week if you get the lower rate or £114.60 per week if you get the higher rate.

If you have a severe disability which means you require regular assistance day and night, you could claim the higher amount and there are around 56 categories of conditions which could make you eligible. If you get the higher rate this could be worth up to £5,959.20 per year.