Powered by Lexis+®
Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
CASE STUDY

“LexisLibrary gives us the most relevant and recent cases and always has the latest information on them. It makes research so much easier. We're more cost-effective for our clients and more efficient each day”

Advocates

Access all documents on Pensions Credit

Pensions Credit meaning

What does Pensions Credit mean?
Pension Credit (often miscalled Pensions Credit) is the UK means‑tested income top‑up for people who have reached state pension age. In legal practice it refers to the benefit created by the State Pension Credit Act 2002 and related regulations, administered by the Department for Work and Pensions in England, Wales and Scotland, and by the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland. It has two parts: Guarantee Credit, which ensures a minimum income level, and Savings Credit, payable only to those who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016. Entitlement is assessed on income and capital for the claimant or couple, and is subject to the habitual residence test. Since 15 May 2019 a new award generally requires both members of a couple to have reached State Pension age (mixed‑age couples otherwise claim Universal Credit unless protected). Practically, an award often passports clients to pension‑age Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, help with health costs and the over‑75 TV licence, and the Guarantee Credit element can passport civil legal aid means tests. Usage is consistent across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The term is not used in Ireland, where comparable support is provided through the State Pension (Contributory or Non‑Contributory) and other...
Speed up all aspects of your legal work with tools that help you to work faster and smarter. Win cases, close deals and grow your business–all whilst saving time and reducing risk.

View the related Checklists about Pensions Credit

CHECKLISTS
Annual benefit statements for occupational and personal pension schemes: content and disclosure requirements (DB, cash balance and DC) under regs 16, 16A and 17 of SI 2013/2734

This Checklist offers an overview of the information an annual benefit statement must contain under regs 16, 16A and 17 of the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2013, SI 2013/2734 (the Disclosure Regs 2013). It applies irrespective of whether the pension arrangement in question is a defined benefit scheme, a cash balance arrangement or any other money purchase set‑up. Benefit statements for benefits other than money purchase benefits Active, deferred and pension credit members who are entitled to benefits other than money purchase benefits (for example, final salary or career average benefits) may ask the trustees or managers of the scheme for a benefit statement once in every 12‑month period. The trustees must provide the statement as soon as practicable and, in any event, within two months of their request. The precise content of the annual benefit statement varies according to the member’s status, and the accompanying table identifies the information requirements for benefit statements for each relevant type of member...

Read More Right Arrow

View the related News about Pensions Credit

NEWS
UKSC in Simkova: Universal Credit child element not a family benefit under Regulation 883/2004; inseverable from UC; no CJEU reference under the Withdrawal Agreement

Simkova v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] UKSC 41 What are the practical implications of this case? First, it is settled that EU nationals living in the UK, whose children reside in an EU member state, cannot receive the Universal Credit child element for those children. This holds even where the parent pays towards the children’s maintenance and support, notwithstanding the realities of cross‑border family life. Second, the judgment shows the courts continue to grapple with dense EU law even after Brexit, specifically in areas where the UK‑EU Withdrawal Agreement preserves direct effect. It underscores the ongoing need to interpret and apply those preserved rules when they bear on disputes arising in the domestic benefits system, for cases such as this. Third, this appeal did not give the Supreme Court an opportunity to define the scope of its discretion to seek a CJEU ruling on a question under Part Two of the Agreement concerning citizens’ rights. That discretion applies only to proceedings...

Read More Right Arrow
NEWS
Local government law round-up: case law (Supreme Court, planning/CIL, procurement), education and social care, NHS restructuring, housing ombudsman and licensing—20 November 2025

In this issue: Education Social care Public procurement Planning Governance Children's social care Pensions Social housing Healthcare Licensing Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Education Supreme Court holds that statutory religious education and collective worship in Northern Ireland school breached human rights (JR87 and another for Judicial Review (Appellant)) In In the matter of an application by JR87 and another for Judicial Review (Appellant), the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the appeal advanced by a schoolgirl, JR87, together with her father, against the Department of Education (Northern Ireland). The court determined that delivering religious education and conducting collective worship in Northern Ireland’s controlled schools, as required by the current statutory scheme, violated their rights under Article 2 of Protocol 1 (A2P1) to the European Convention on Human Rights, when read in conjunction with Article 9 ECHR. Victoria Dennis, Educational Law Solicitor at Doyle Clayton, has offered observations on the...

Read More Right Arrow
NEWS
Financial services regulatory round-up: equity consolidated tape CP25/31, CBA note, Money Markets Code minutes, CCR009 update, fund marketing rules, ESAs appeal decision (6 January 2026)

Other developments Here is a round-up of further developments not explored in full by the Lexis+ Financial Services practical guidance team but which may still be of interest: CP25/31: The framework for a UK equity consolidated tape [Update] Note on the Construction of CP25/31 Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) Minutes of the UK Money Markets Code Sub-Committee – December 2025 CCR009 return – relevant ancillary credit firm [Update] Report on Marketing requirements and marketing communications under the regulation on cross-border distribution of funds ESAs’ Joint Board of Appeal rules on reimbursement of costs in an appeal brought by NOVIS Insurance Company against the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) ...

Read More Right Arrow

View the related Practice Notes about Pensions Credit

PRACTICE NOTES
Share-based remuneration for UK non-executive directors: independence, employees’ share scheme status, Listing/AIM, UK MAR, pre-emption, financial assistance, FSMA, disclosure and practical structuring options

Meaning of ‘non-executive director’ The broad definition of ‘director’ is not closed. Under the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006), a director is any person who occupies the office of director, whatever title they hold. Accordingly, this covers both executive and non-executive directors (NEDs). Executive directors are typically authorised, either by the company’s constitution or by authority delegated from the board, to manage the company’s day-to-day affairs, and they usually have a full-time service contract. NEDs generally: have no executive powers play a pivotal role in the company’s corporate governance are not employees of the company There are a number of challenges around granting shares to NEDs. This Practice Note considers the issues to assess when offering shares or share-based remuneration to NEDs, including: the potential impact on the NED’s independence the share dealing provisions of Assimilated Regulation (EU) 596/2014 for the UK, and the Market Abuse Regulation (Regulation (EU) 596/2014) previously and for the EU ...

Read More Right Arrow
PRACTICE NOTES
Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 (UK): statutory basis, funding and cost control, governance, membership, benefits, transfers, death benefits, and the McCloud transitional remedy

Statutory framework At present, four principal pension schemes operate in England and Wales for members of the armed forces. These are: Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS 1975) — formerly open only to the regular forces; closed to new members from 6 April 2006 and stopped future accrual from 1 April 2022 Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (AFPS 2005) — likewise for the regular forces only; also closed to future accrual from 1 April 2022 Reserve Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (RFPS 2005) — open to full time reservists; again closed to future accrual from 1 April 2022 Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 (AFPS 2015) — open to the regular forces and all reservists; effective from 1 April 2015 There are also several other schemes, run by the same manager, that provide pension or other occupational benefits to armed forces personnel. This Practice Note focuses on AFPS 2015. The AFPS 2015 was established under section...

Read More Right Arrow
PRACTICE NOTES
FCA competition powers in UK financial services: concurrency with CMA, investigations, penalties, market studies, and the new secondary international competitiveness and growth objective (FSMA 2000/2023; DMCCA 2024).

Scope of this Practice Note This Practice Note sets out the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA’s) competition law powers under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA 2000), together with associated investigative tools and sanctions for infringements. It also examines the secondary objective on international competitiveness and growth, introduced for the FCA and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (FSMA 2023). In addition, it summarises the FCA’s programme of market studies, calls for input and other competition-focused reviews... Overview of the FCA’s competition law powers Under FSMA 2000, the FCA holds a statutory objective to foster effective competition for the benefit of consumers across markets for regulated financial services and for services supplied by a recognised investment exchange. When pursuing its other two statutory aims—protecting consumers and safeguarding market integrity—it must likewise further effective competition in consumers’ interests. Where markets appear to serve consumers poorly because competition is weak, the FCA may probe those markets and step in where necessary....

Read More Right Arrow

View the related Precedents about Pensions Credit

PRECEDENTS
Precedent Cohabitation Agreement (Deed): Property, Finances, Wills, Pensions and Termination (England and Wales)

This Deed is executed on [ insert date and month ] 20[ insert year ] Parties [ Insert name of first party ] of [ insert address of first party ] (referred to as AB: [ insert first and last name of first party ]) [ Insert name of second party ] of [ insert address of second party ] (referred to as BC: [ insert first and last name of second party ]) Recitals The parties intend that this Deed shall have binding legal effect upon them, together with their respective personal representatives and estates. [ Both parties acknowledge they have had the benefit of independent legal advice regarding the terms and effects of this Deed OR [ AB OR BC ] has obtained independent legal advice concerning the terms and effects of this Deed and [ BC OR AB ] has been advised to do so ] . Each party has agreed to this Deed...

Read More Right Arrow

View the related Q&As about Pensions Credit

Q&As
Pension sharing order: pension credit to bankrupt spouse or trustee in bankruptcy?

A pension sharing order A pension sharing order enables one party to obtain, in their own name and in their own right, benefits directly debited from the other party’s pension scheme, and secures a clean break between the parties regarding pensions. Sections 11 and 12 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (WRPA 1999) state that pension rights under approved pension schemes do not vest in a trustee in bankruptcy, provided the bankruptcy petition was presented on or after 29 May 2000 under the legislation. Consequently, if the individual holding the pension to be shared is made bankrupt, the court’s authority to make a pension sharing order should remain unaffected in law...

Read More Right Arrow