A to Z
This A to Z list will point you in the right direction to finding more information about the entitlements or services you might receive once you are a pensioner. You can also look up pension options open to you if you are planning or reviewing your retirement income. Click on the relevant letter below.
For more options visit the A to Z of the Department for Work and Pensions website
Calculator: Calculate
your State Pension age
Calculate how much Pension
Credit you may be entitled to
Care homes: Find out more about going into a care home and paying care costs
Carer's Allowance: If you spend at least 35 hours a
week caring for someone who is severely disabled, you may be entitled
to this payment.
Find
out more about Carers Allowance on the Directgov website
Caring for others: Find
out about more information for carers
Find more information
for carers on the Directgov website
Changes to the law: The Pensions Act 2007 and the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland)
2008 make changes
to the State Pensions system. In the main, these changes will only affect
you if you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010.
Find out more about changes to the
UK State Pension
Christmas Bonus: The Christmas Bonus is a tax free
payment made to customers who are present or ordinarily resident in the
UK or any other EU Member State and who are entitled to receive one or
more qualifying benefits, including State Pension and Pension Credit in
the first week of December.
Find
out more information about Christmas Bonuses on the Directgov website
Claim forms: To claim for entitlements, you can read or print a range of claim forms in Adobe Reader / Portable Document File (PDF) format.
Claiming State Pension later: Go to State Pension deferral
Cold Weather Payment: If you're
getting Pension Credit or another income-related benefit,
you could be eligible for extra assistance to help with your heating costs
when there is a spell of cold weather in your area. This is different
to the Winter Fuel Payment, which you may also be
eligible for.
Find out more about Cold Weather Payments on the Jobcentre Plus website
Combined pension forecast: If you are an employer or
a pensions provider, you can now provide a combined pension forecast for
members of your occupational or private pension scheme. Combined pension
forecasts allow members of pension schemes to see forecasts of both their
state and current private pension provision together for the first time.
Find out how to arrange combined pension forecasts
for employers
Find out more information on combined
pension forecasts for pension scheme providers
As an employers or pension provider register your interest in combined pension forecasting
If you are an individual, apply for a State Pension forecast
Community Care Grant: If you are getting the Pension
Credit and you need help to stay in, or return to your own home, you
may be entitled to assistance with the cost of items for your home, clothing
and travel costs. You do not have to pay the grant back.
Find
out more about Community Care Grants on the Department for Work and Pensions
website
Complaints: If you have a complaint or comment about The Pension Service, please contact your pension centre by post, phone, fax or email
Computers: Go to Online Centres
Contacting The Pension Service: Contact us through this website or from overseas by email, telephone or fax.
Contracted-out pension: You may decide you want to
leave (contract out of) the State Second Pension (formerly
SERPS) to join a stakeholder, an occupational, or a personal pension
scheme.
Read or download our Guide to contracted-out
pensions
Council Tax Benefit: If you are on a
low income, you may be able to get help to pay your Council Tax bills.
You can apply to your local council for assistance.
Find out more about Council
Tax Benefit
Crime: Go to Victim Support and Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
Crisis Loan: In the event of emergency or disaster, you may be entitled to an interest free loan to help you and your family. You will have to agree with your Jobcentre Plus office how and when you will pay the loan back. Find out more about Social Fund Crisis loans on the Department for Work and Pensions website
Customer Charter: The Pension Service Customer Charter
tells you what you can expect from us. It also tells you what you can
do to help us and what to do if things go wrong.
Read our Customer Charter