Pension Credit and Council Tax After Your Partner Dies

Losing a partner when you are both relying on Pension Credit or council tax support is financially as well as emotionally difficult. The good news is that there are protections in place to prevent income dropping immediately. Understanding what to claim, and when, means you will not lose out on money you are entitled to.

The Bereavement Run-On: 12 Weeks at the Joint Rate

When a Pension Credit claimant dies, the surviving partner does not immediately lose the benefit. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) automatically pays a bereavement run-on, which continues Pension Credit at the joint couple rate for 12 weeks following the date of death.

This run-on happens automatically — you do not need to apply for it. However, you do need to notify the Pension Service of your partner's death as soon as possible, both to trigger the run-on and to begin the process of making a new single-person claim.

You can notify the Pension Service by calling 0800 731 0469 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). You will need your partner's National Insurance number, date of birth, and date of death.

Making a New Pension Credit Claim as a Single Person

Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit and the single rate is calculated differently from the joint rate. After your partner dies, you must make a new claim in your own name. You cannot simply continue the existing joint claim.

The single person's Pension Credit standard minimum guarantee for 2025/26 is £218.15 per week. The joint rate was £332.95 per week. Your entitlement as a single person will depend on your own income and capital, including any state pension, private pension, or savings you have.

To make a new claim, contact the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234. You will need:

• Your National Insurance number
• Details of your income, including state pension and any private or workplace pensions
• Details of any savings or investments (if over £10,000, this affects the calculation)
• Your bank account details for payment

You can also make a claim online at gov.uk/pension-credit. Claims can be backdated by up to three months, so even if you have not claimed immediately, you may be able to recover some money.

How the Weekly Payment Amount Changes

Moving from a joint Pension Credit claim to a single one will almost certainly reduce the weekly amount you receive, since the standard minimum guarantee for a single person is lower than for a couple. However, the reduction may be less than you expect, because:

• If your partner had income (such as their own state pension or private pension) that was counted in the joint claim, this income is no longer included in the calculation — which can partially offset the reduction in the standard minimum guarantee.
• You may be entitled to additional elements of Pension Credit, such as the Savings Credit (if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016), the Housing Costs element, or the Severe Disability Premium.

The Pension Service will carry out a fresh assessment when you make your new claim. It is worth asking them to explain exactly how your new entitlement has been calculated.

Council Tax Single Person Discount

Once you are living alone, you are entitled to a 25% discount on your council tax bill. This is known as the Single Person Discount and it applies to everyone who is the sole adult resident in a property, regardless of income.

You must apply to your local council — it does not happen automatically. Contact the council tax department as soon as possible after your partner dies. Most councils allow you to apply online, by phone, or in writing. You will typically need to provide the date your partner died.

The discount can usually be backdated to the date of death, so you will not pay the full rate for any period during which you were already living alone.

Council Tax Reduction: Claiming in Your Own Right

If your late partner was receiving a Council Tax Reduction (sometimes called Council Tax Benefit in older literature), this was paid as part of a joint household claim. After their death, you will need to make a new claim for Council Tax Reduction in your own name.

Council Tax Reduction is administered by your local council and each authority has its own scheme. Eligibility is based on income, capital, and household composition. As a single person on Pension Credit, you are likely to qualify for significant support — in some areas, those on Pension Credit Guarantee Credit receive a 100% Council Tax Reduction.

Contact your local council to apply. At the same time, ask them to apply the Single Person Discount on your account.

The Minimum Income Guarantee and How to Request an Assessment

The Pension Credit Guarantee Credit is designed to ensure that everyone over pension age has a minimum weekly income. If your total income from all sources falls below the standard minimum guarantee (£218.15 per week for a single person in 2025/26), Pension Credit tops it up to that level.

If you are unsure whether you are receiving everything you are entitled to, contact the Pension Service and ask for a benefits check or entitlement assessment. You can also use the government's free Pension Credit calculator at gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility to get an estimate before calling.

Age UK (ageuk.org.uk, freephone 0800 678 1602) and Citizens Advice can also provide free help checking your entitlements and completing the claim.