Bolton pensioners could be missing thousands in support: practical information

Public Services Desk 2026-10-12 15:24 3 min read

Vintage brass plaque from Hick, Hargreaves and Co Ltd, located in Bolton, England.

Pensioners in Bolton are being urged to check whether they qualify for Pension Credit during a week of action running from 12 to 16 October 2026. The benefit is not paid automatically, and owning a home, having savings or receiving a private pension does not necessarily rule someone out.

Bolton Council says eligible claimants could receive up to £4,300 a year in Pension Credit. An award may also open access to other support, so the council is asking families and friends to encourage people of State Pension age to check their eligibility.

Home ownership and savings do not automatically rule you out

The council says a person’s home is not counted when Pension Credit entitlement is calculated. The first £10,000 of savings is ignored; savings above that level are assessed on a tiered basis. The source does not provide full eligibility thresholds, so these points alone cannot establish whether someone will qualify.

Pension Credit is paid in addition to the State Pension. Having a private pension or being employed also does not automatically disqualify someone, according to the council’s guidance. People need to apply: the payment is not issued automatically.

Up to 910,000 eligible households are not claiming

Government estimates cited by Bolton Council put the share of eligible pensioners not claiming their full entitlement at 35%. The estimates suggest between 760,000 and 910,000 eligible households miss out, leaving up to £2.5 billion unclaimed each year. In some areas, the council says, as many as half of eligible households do not claim.

These are national estimates, while Bolton Council’s week of action is a local campaign to raise awareness. The figures underline why the council is asking people not to assume they are ineligible based on home ownership, savings or other income.

An award may unlock other support

Bolton Council says receiving Pension Credit can also open access to a range of help, including Winter Fuel Payment, Council Tax Reduction, Housing Benefit, a free TV licence for people aged 75 or over, and help with NHS charges such as dental treatment, glasses and transport. Eligibility for each form of support may depend on the relevant rules.

Cllr Jackie Schofield, the council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said people with a State Pension, savings and their own home should not assume they cannot qualify. She said it is possible to check eligibility online or through the free Department for Work and Pensions helpline, and local cost-of-living support groups can help with a claim.

How to check and apply

People can check eligibility and make a claim online, or call the free DWP helpline on 0800 99 1234. Bolton Council’s Pension Credit Week of Action runs from 12 to 16 October 2026. The council encourages relatives and friends to pass the information on to anyone of State Pension age who may be entitled.

Source: Bolton Council News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source and checks

This article uses Bolton Council’s published campaign details and distinguishes the cited national estimates from the local awareness campaign.

Checks

Checked the campaign dates against the council’s published notice.
Kept the unclaimed-household and annual-value figures attributed to estimates cited by the...
Retained the council’s stated savings, home ownership and application details.
Included the DWP helpline number as published by the council.

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