The numbers £400 and £300 relate to UK government cost of living support payments provided to pensioners in previous years, primarily during the 2022-2024 period, not as regular current payments.
Set to roll out from late December 2025, this cash payment is part of a national cost-of-living relief package aimed at supporting pensioners, carers, jobseekers, and low-income households facing ongoing financial strain.
Other Age Pension benefits
Pension supplement - A regular extra payment to help with utility, phone, internet and medicine costs. Rent assistance – A regular extra amount to help you cover the cost of your accommodation costs. Utilities allowance - A quarterly payment to help with household bills .
When and how will the extra help for people over 66 be paid? The extra help will be paid at the same time as your Winter Fuel Payment, from November 2023. If you don't receive Winter Fuel Payment into your account by 26 January 2024, you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
The Pension Bonus is a tax free lump sum payment for registered members of the Pension Bonus Scheme who have deferred claiming Age Pension and stayed in paid work. The scheme is closed to new registrations. If you are registered in the scheme, you must claim the bonus at the same time you claim Age Pension.
The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas, paid to people who get certain benefits in the qualifying week. This is normally the first full week of December. You do not need to claim - you should get paid automatically.
Latest Age Pension rate changes (from 20 September 2025)
From 20 September 2025 the maximum full Age Pension increases $29.70 per fortnight for a single person, and $44.80 combined ($22.40 per person) per fortnight for a couple.
Instead, the payment of up to £300 per household will be made automatically to all pensioners, however, If you have yearly taxable earnings above £35,000 most of the money will be taken back by HMRC. If you have yearly taxable earnings of £35,000 or less, you will keep the payment.
Christmas Bonus dates 🎄 📅 The Christmas Bonus will be paid this week starting 1 December 2025. 🎁 This is a once-off double week payment for people getting a long-term social welfare payment. ℹ️ In 2025, the Christmas Bonus is 100% of your normal weekly payment.
Get up £300 to help with energy bills each winter
Winter Fuel Payments will be reinstated to all pensioners in in the UK this winter – but will be clawed back automatically from those earning over £35,000 a year.
Final Summary. The widely shared $1,900 Centrelink payment claim for November 2025 is not a new benefit. It simply reflects two regular Age Pension payments received in the same month. Any future bonuses or reforms will be formally announced by the Australian Government through official channels only.
What is the Pensioner Concession Card. The Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) gives you access to cheaper medicines, public transport and utilities. PCCs issued by DVA are the same as those issued by Services Australia.
How much money can I have in the bank before it affects my pension? It depends on your total assessable assets. For example, homeowner couples can have up to $481,500 in combined assets, including bank balances, before their pension is reduced.
If you receive the new State Pension, the full amount you'll receive for the 2025/26 tax year will be £230.25 a week (compared to £221.20 a week for the 2024/25 tax year). You can claim the new State Pension if you're: a man born on or after 6 April 1951. a woman born on or after 6 April 1953.
The government has confirmed that no further Cost of Living Payments are planned for 2025. This means there will not be a new payment (such as the rumoured £450 payment) this year. Future financial support will depend on government decisions and the wider economy, including inflation and energy prices.
The annual £10 payment is made automatically before Christmas, but only to those that claim qualifying benefits. These include carer's allowance, personal independence payment (PIP), and pension credit. However, those claiming universal credit as a standalone benefit are not eligible.
The Christmas Bonus will be paid the first week of December 2025 to people getting a qualifying social welfare payment (see below). The Bonus is normally paid with your social welfare payment. This means you will get the Christmas Bonus on the same day as your social welfare payment.
Guide to benefits, discounts and freebies available to pensioners
Winter fuel payments (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and pension age winter heating payments (in Scotland) have been reinstated this year for all eligible people born before 22 September 1959.
This is a once-off double week payment if you are getting a long-term social welfare payment. In 2025, the Christmas Bonus is 100% of your normal weekly payment. The minimum Bonus amount that will be paid is €20. Normally, you get the bonus with your regular social welfare payment, so you don't need to apply.
DWP benefits that are linked to inflation rise by 3.8% in April 2026, as do inflation-linked benefits administered by HMRC. Universal Credit standard allowances will receive an additional uplift of 2.3%. The basic and new State Pension will be uprated by 4.8% from April 2026.
To be eligible for Age Pension you must be Age Pension age and meet some other rules. Age Pension age is 67 years or older. We use income and assets tests to work out how much Age Pension you get. There are several things to consider when you're preparing to claim Age Pension.
The President has been pleased to sanction an increase @ 7% of net pension with effect from 1 July, 2025 to all Civil Pensioners of the Federal Government including Civilians paid from Defence Estimates as well as retired Armed Forces Personnel and Civil Armed Forces Personnel. 2.