Be prepared

Are you eligible for Pension Credit?

We want to raise awareness about Pension Credit and break down some of the barriers that may stop people from applying for it.

Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £218.15 a week for single pensioners, or £332.95 for couples. It is a tax-free payment for those who:

• have reached Pension Credit qualifying age, which is State Pension age, and
• live in Great Britain

Someone may still get Pension Credit if they:

• have not paid National Insurance contributions
• have some savings or a small pension
• live with their grown-up family
• own their own home

The quickest way for you, a family member or carer to check your eligibility is by using the Pension Credit calculator or calling the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 991234 (open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday). If you need further support around applying for Pension Credit, you can access free support in your local area.

Unsure about insurance? 

We all know we need insurance for our car and to travel on holiday, but what about your home, your life or your pet? A monthly insurance payment of less than £10 could save you having to pay out hundreds, or even thousands of pounds if something unexpected happens. Make sure you are insured and protected for the things that are important to you. 

Get the best deal

You can get insurance from lots of different providers. Trade Unions and your bank might offer discounted payments, and you can even get insurance or assurance policies that give you back what you've paid after a set amount of time if you haven't claimed. 

You might get the best deal from using a comparison site such as Go Compare or Money Supermarket. Find out more about how to get the best deal on your insurance at Insurance Guides - MoneySavingExpert. 

How much could I save by having insurance?

Below are some examples of how much insurance will cost you weekly versus how much you could end up paying if you don't have insurance and something unexpected happens: 

Home insurance - buildings and contents

Home insurance provides financial protection in the event of something happening to your property and/or belongings. Depending on your policy you might be covered for theft, fire, flood, loss, accidental damage and more. 

There were more than 600 reports of damage across Sunderland from Storm Arwen, ranging from trees blocking roads to house damage such as gable ends, walls, and roofs. If you own your home outright, could you afford repairs like these? The average cost to replace the contents of a UK home is £35,000. If there was a fire or a flood, you could lose all your family's belongings, but home contents insurance can take away that worry. Most home insurance policies start at just over £1 per week, making it an affordable option to ensure your contents are insured in case something should happen to your property. 

Income Protection Insurance

How long could you manage to pay your monthly bills if you had an accident or became ill and couldn't work? According to Which? three in 10 people in the UK wouldn't have enough savings to cover three months of essential spending for things like bills and everyday living. Income protection insurance can give you peace of mind that you'll still be able to pay your bills if you weren't able to work. 

Life insurance

Could your family afford to pay the bills if the worst happened, and you passed away? Life insurance can cost you as little as £1.25 a week, less than a takeout coffee, but can make sure that your family have less to worry about in a worst-case scenario. 

Health insurance

In Britain, the NHS is there to support residents' health needs, but having the peace of mind that you won't have to struggle financially if you're diagnosed with a condition that limits your ability to work can help. There are various types of health insurance - some offer private treatment that can be quicker than NHS waiting times, and there are also insurances specific to conditions like cancer where you receive a pay out on diagnosis and assurance that any medications will be paid for even if the NHS cannot cover the cost. Find out more at Money Saving Expert. 

Pet insurance

Have you thought about how you'd pay a vet bill if your pet had an accident or became unwell? Pet insurance starts from less than £6 per month, but an accident or illness could set you back hundreds or even thousands of pounds. 

Which? has a helpful article which explains the different types of policies and exclusions.