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

Paid work: If you have reached State Pension age, but you want to keep doing paid work, you could benefit from New Deal 50 Plus and Jobcentres Plus programmes.
Find out more about paid work after State Pension age

Partnership Fund : The Department for Work and Pensions is providing short-term funding to local or national organisations and the voluntary sector for projects designed to improve take-up of entitlements and services among older people.
Find out about The Partnership Fund

Pension Credit: Pension Credit is an entitlement for people aged 60 and over introduced by the Government from October 2003, replacing Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG). It guarantees everyone aged 60 and over an income of at least:

  • £124.05 a week if you are single or
  • £189.35 a week if you have a partner

If you or your partner are aged 65 or over and you have saved some money towards your retirement, such as savings or a second pension, you may get extra Pension Credit. This is savings credit and could be up to:

  • £25.26 a week if you are single or
  • £26.13 a week if you have a partner

Find out more about Pension Credit

Pension forecast or combined pension forecast: See State Pension forecast

Pension forecasts for overseas customers:
Find out more about pension forecasts for overseas customers on the HM Revenue & Customs website

Pension Protection Fund: is a new organisation that, protects members of defined benefit schemes by paying compensation if their employer becomes insolvent and the pension scheme is underfunded.
Find out more on the Pension Protection Fund website

Pension simplification: The Pickering Report on Pensions Simplification was compiled by independent pensions expert Alan Pickering and published on 11 July 2002.
Read or download the Pickering report on the Department for Work and Pensions website

Pension Tracing Service: If you think you may have an old pension, but are not sure of the details, the Pension Tracing Service can usually help by tracing it for you.
Find out how to trace a pension

Pensioners' guide: This guide provides comprehensive information on all the benefits and assistance available to pensioners.
Read and print Pensioners' guide – England and Wales
Read and print Pensioners' guide – Scotland

Pensions Act 2004: Find out more about the Pensions Act 2004, including reforms to bolster protection for pension scheme members, on the Department for Work and Pensions website

Pensions at Work:The Pensions at Work website promotes good practice in employer pension provision.
Find out more information from the the Pensions at Work website

Pensions Debate: Go to National Pensions Debate

Pensions Education Fund: The fund aims to increase financial awareness among working people - both employees and the self employed - giving them the information they need to help them make decisions about their retirement. Not-for-profit organisations (such as trade unions, trade associations, charities and voluntary sector bodies) will bid for and use money from the Fund to develop innovative ways to actively engage with working people.
Find out more about the Pensions Education Fund on the Department for Work and Pensions website

Pensions reform: Find out about the Government’s reforms to the State Pensions system under the Pensions Act 2007 and the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008

Pensions Regulator: The new regulator of work-based pension schemes in the UK.
Find out more about on the The Pensions Regulator on the Department for Work and Pensions' website

Pensions Tax Simplification: From 6 April 2006 there was a new tax regime for pensions called Pensions Tax Simplification. It replaced the eight existing tax regimes with one.
Find out more about Pensions Tax Simplification on HM Revenue & Customs website

Personal pension: A personal pension is a type of private pension that is approved by HM Revenue & Customs and receives certain tax advantages. You take out a personal pension under a contract with a pension provider and contribute to it yourself. However, some employers may contribute to your personal pension. It is personal to you, and you can take it from job to job.
Find out more about personal pensions

Policy changes: Go to Pensions reform

Postponing State Pension: Go to State Pension Deferral

Prescriptions: Everyone aged 60 or over can get free NHS prescriptions and eye tests. If you are receiving the Pension Credit, you may also receive free wigs, fabric supports and vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses.
Find out more about prescriptions on the NHS Prescription Pricing Authority website

Priority Service Register: If you are over 60 and a domestic consumer of gas and electricity, you may be eligible for free services. Every gas and electricity supplier must provide a range of free, optional services under a scheme called the Priority Service Register. You can find out about free services available under the Priority Service Register from energywatch, the independent gas and electricity consumer watchdog.
Contact energywatch on 0845 906 0708 (typetalk 18001 0845 906 0708)
Visit the energywatch website

Private pension: A private pension scheme relies on direct payments to an organisation which invests on your behalf. It can be set up by an employer or private financial company. Occupational pensions and personal pensions including stakeholder pensions and group personal pensions are types of private pensions.
Find out more about private pensions
Find out more about personal pensions
Find out more about occupational pensions

Publications: Go to Guides and forms