Cancer benefits if you are of pension age

State Pension

The State Pension is paid by the government every week. The age at which you can get State Pension depends on when you were born.

Check your State Pension age

There are two types of State Pension:

• basic State Pension

• new State Pension

Basic State Pension

You can get basic State Pension if you are:

• a man born before 6 April 1951

• a woman born before 6 April 1953

To get the basic State Pension, you need enough National Insurance qualifying years. This is either from:

• paying contributions or

• receiving credits to get the basic State Pension

A qualifying year means that in that year, one or more of the following applies:

• you were working and paying National Insurance

• you were receiving National Insurance Credits such as for unemployment, sickness or being a parent or carer

• you were paying National Insurance contributions on a voluntary basis

You can get basic State Pension only once you have reached State Pension age.

Read more about basic State Pension on the Government website

If you're transgender

Your State Pension might be affected if you’re transgender and you:

• were born between 24 December 1919 and 3 April 1945

• have claimed State Pension before 4 April 2005

• had gender reassignment surgery that took place before 4 April 2005 and you can provide evidence of the surgery

Read more about equal treatment rights for transgender people

New State Pension

You qualify for the new State Pension if you're:

• a man born on or after 6 April 1951

• a woman born on or after 6 April 1953

You need 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any new State Pension. And 35 years to get the full amount. The 10 years don't have to be in a row and can be:

• working and paying National Insurance

• receiving National Insurance Credits such as for unemployment, sickness or if you're a parent or carer

• paying National Insurance contributions on a voluntary basis

People who have lived or worked in another country might still get some new State Pension. This depends on the number of qualifying years you have. And which countries have you lived or worked in.

If you've made married women's or widow's reduced rate contributions you might also qualify.

Read more about the new State Pension on the Government website

Pension Credit

Pension Credit gives financial support to people of State Pension age and on a low income.

You may get more Pension credit if you have:

• a disability

• are a carer

• are responsible for a child or young person

To get Pension Credit, you must:

• live in England, Scotland or Wales

• have reached State Pension age

A couple can get Pension Credit if either:

• you have both reached State Pension age

• one of you gets Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age

Read more about Pension Credit on the Government website

The process is slightly different in Northern Ireland.

Read more about Pension Credit in Northern Ireland

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a payment that helps with extra costs when you have a disability or a health condition. It's for people of State Pension age or older. You need:

• to have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition

• to have a disability or health condition severe enough for you to need someone to help look after you or supervise you

• help for at least 6 months (unless you’re terminally ill)

You don’t need a carer to qualify. If you do have a carer, they can apply for Carers Allowance depending on how much care you need.

Read more about Attendance Allowance on the Government website

In Scotland, a benefit called Pension Age Disability Payment is replacing Attendance Allowance.

Read about Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland

Council Tax Reduction

You may be able to get a Council Tax Reduction. This is also sometimes called Council Tax support. Each council has its own rules. This means the help you can get may be different depending on where you live.

To work out who can get Council Tax reduction the council look at:

• your income and benefits you may have

• how many adults live with you

• how many children live with you

Other factors are also considered. You can check on the government website or call your local council to find out if you are eligible for a Council Tax Reduction.

Find out more about Council Tax Reduction on the government website

In Northern Ireland, there is no Council Tax. Instead, there is a different system called rates.

You can read about rates in Northern Ireland and how to apply for a discount

TV licence discount

If you are 75 or over and get Pension Credit, you may be able to get a free or discounted TV licence. People who are blind or have problems with their sight may also be able to pay less for their TV licence.

Get more information on applying for a free or discounted TV licence

MoneyHelper - Money and Pensions Service 

An organisation set up by the government to give clear, unbiased money advice. Helpline: 0800 011 3797 (9am - 5pm Monday to Friday)

MoneyHelper website