The state pension is currently valued at up to £230.25 per week for those on the New State Pension (claimed after 6 April 2016), or £176.45 each week for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B).
State pensioners face nine freebies and handouts courtesy of the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) which are worth over £7k in June. Pensioners could face a string of freebies and perks thanks to the benefits department.
The state pension is currently valued at up to £230.25 per week for those on the New State Pension (claimed after 6 April 2016), or £176.45 each week for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B).
On top of that, you can get Pension Credit – and eight other perks. If you live with a partner and one of you is pension age and the other is not yet pension age, benefit entitlement can be complicated.
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After you have reached State Pension age, you are no longer able to make new claims for benefits like Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
So it’s crucial to be aware of what you are owed…
Free prescriptions – £145
Once you turn 60, prescriptions are free across England, Scotland, and Wales. If you need regular prescriptions and buy an annual prepayment certificate, you can save up to £114.50 annually.
All over-60s qualify for free NHS eye tests, which typically cost between £20 and £25, too. You should schedule a check-up once a year, as well as testing your eyesight, it also checks overall eye health.
Free dental treatment – £282
You do not have to pay for NHS dental services if you’re under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education, pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months or being treated in an NHS hospital and your treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist (but you may have to pay for any dentures or bridges) or receiving low income benefits, or you’re under 20 and a dependant of someone receiving low income benefits.
Free TV Licence – £174
If you’re 75 or over and you receive Pension Credit you can claim a free TV licence, saving you £174.50 a year.
Council tax discount – up to £2,280
The average Band D council tax set by local authorities in England for 2025-26 will be £2,280, which is an increase of £109 or 5.0% on the 2024-25 figure of £2,171. This includes all precepts including adult social care and parish precepts.
Of the 384 authorities that were subject to referendum principles, 294 authorities used the maximum flexibility available to them and 56 were close to the maximum. Eight authorities either made no change or decreased their average Band D council tax.
In 2025-26, 147 adult social care authorities have utilised all and the remaining 6 have utilised some of their adult social care precept flexibility when setting their council tax. The maximum flexibility is 2%. This additional flexibility accounts for £34 of the average Band D council tax bill.
Social tariffs – £234
Social tariffs are available from several broadband providers, helping those on benefits access an internet connection at a much lower monthly price. Social tariffs are a way to get broadband if you’re receiving Universal Credit or another type of financial support. They’re much cheaper than the standard monthly rate for the service and are reserved for these customers to help them afford the usual monthly price of a broadband connection.
Uswitch recently found that two-thirds of financially vulnerable households are unaware that low-income broadband tariffs exist. That’s a rough total of ten million homes that could save up to £234 a year, or nearly £20 per month, on a cheaper broadband contract.
Discounted water bills – £160
In a MSE newsletter, BBC and ITV Martin Lewis’ team revealed that around 5.7million households could cut their water bills by up to £160 a year through support schemes from water suppliers. The support schemes are called social tariffs and every water company has one.
The MSE explained: “Every water company (in England & Wales) has a social tariff scheme for those on low incomes which can lower bills or cap what you pay. Many firms have just updated their criteria for 2024 – to see if you qualify.”
Free passport – £94.50
British nationals born on or before 2 September 1929 can skip the charges of a passport and get one for free. This saves a pensioner up to £94.50. However, if you need to use the fast track service you’ll still need to pay.
Free bus pass – £128
In England you can get a bus pass for free travel when you reach the State Pension age. If you live in London, you can travel free on buses, tubes and other transport when you’re 60, but only within London. In Wales you can get a bus pass when you reach 60.
The average person with a concessionary bus pass made 64 journeys in the year to March 2023. That’s the equivalent to an annual saving of a £128, with the average bus ticket currently costing £2.
Pension Credit – £3,900
It tops up the income of pensioners on lower earnings. It will take weekly income up to to £218.15 if you’re single or joint income to £332.95.
The exact value will depend on your income but DWP says the average reward is worth more than £3,900 a year.
