State pensioners being handed £17,342 worth of freebies and discounts in November

A list of 12 freebies and discounts available to State Pension recipients in November has been unveiled. The new Labour Party government has pledged its commitment to the Triple Lock increase, providing a welcome boost for state pensioners at the start of the month.

The Chancellor has confirmed that the state pension will rise by 4.1 per cent to match the average earnings element of the triple lock. This means that next year's full new state pension is set to reach £11,975.60 annually, an increase of £473, reports Birmingham Live.

The increase, combined with pre-planned freezing of income tax thresholds mean full state pension will be 95 per cent of the personal allowance. Steven Cameron, pensions director at Aegon, says: "This increase is more than double the 1.7 per cent inflation figure announced earlier this month.

"The 4.1 per cent increase is based on the Triple Lock formula, under which pensions increase each April by the highest of three measures – earnings growth (the year-on-year rise in average earnings for the period May to July), price inflation (for the year to September, announced as 1.7 per cent earlier this month), or a minimum of 2.5 per cent."

He added: "For those who reached state pension age before 6 April 2016 and who are on the full basic state pension, the increase would be around £6.95, bringing them to £176.45 per week, or £9,175.40 a year."

"A little-known rule is that any earnings-related element of the basic State Pension, relating to the pre-April 2016 rules, and top ups, are only increased in line with the rate of inflation and not the Triple Lock. Therefore, some may find their overall state pension increase lags behind the 4.1 per cent figure."

Pension Credit - £3,900

Pension Credit is a benefit that provides financial support to 1.4 million people across the UK, including over 125,000 in Scotland, who are over State Pension age and on a low income. On average, it provides more than £3,900 per year in financial support and acts as a 'passport' to other benefits, such as Council Tax discounts, help with housing costs, NHS discounts, and free TV Licences for the over-75s.

The Pension Credit Calculator on the GOV. UK website can help ensure you or a family member are receiving all the financial support you're entitled to.

For further assistance, the Pension Credit helpline can be reached at 0800 99 1234.

Attendance Allowance - £5,644

Attendance Allowance, a benefit valued at either £72.65 (lower rate) or £108.55 (higher rate) per week, is typically paid every four weeks. This equates to either £290.60 or £434.20, or up to £5,644.60 annually.

The amount received depends on the level of support needed. It's designed to help those of State Pension age with daily living costs, aiding them in maintaining their independence at home for longer.

However, it's important to note that there is no mobility component attached to Attendance Allowance. .

This allowance supports individuals with a disability, long-term illness, and mental or physical health conditions, with over 40 conditions being supported through the benefit. The most commonly claimed disabling condition, as termed by the DWP, is arthritis, providing support for 460,993 people across Great Britain.

Here's everything you need to know about Attendance Allowance, including the main health conditions being claimed, eligibility, and how to make a claim.

Council Tax reduction - £2,171

Council Tax reduction could be available if you're on a low income or claim benefits, potentially reducing your bill by up to 100%. You can apply whether you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working.

The amount of Council Tax Reduction you receive depends on various factors, wherever you live, including:

• your age
• your income, including any benefits you receive
• your savings
• who you live with
• how much Council Tax you pay.

Eligibility for Council Tax Reduction may increase if you receive a disability or carer's benefit, with the potential for those on pension credit guarantee to not pay any Council Tax at all.

Housing benefit

Housing benefit is also available to assist with rent for low-income earners or those on certain benefits, regardless of employment status.

However, a partnered household can only make a single claim.

A DWP spokesperson encouraged those who believe they might be entitled: "Anyone who believes they're entitled to benefits should contact Jobcentre Plus – online, over the phone or by visiting their local branch. Our dedicated advisers and work coaches are on hand to help people claim what they are entitled to, and can signpost to other support options available."

Cold Weather Payment - £25

The Cold Weather Payment stands at £25 and is applicable when temperatures hit zero degrees Celsius or below for seven days in a row. This payment applies to England and Wales, whereas Scotland now offers a £55 annual payment, increased from £50 last year.

Warm Home discount £150

Lastly, the Warm Home Discount Scheme for winter 2024 to 2025 promises a £150 reduction on electricity bills for eligible individuals throughout Great Britain, with information about participating energy suppliers available online.

The eligibility rules for the scheme underwent changes in 2022, meaning some individuals may no longer qualify while others might need to apply - particularly those residing in Scotland - as they will not receive the discount directly. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pays the money directly to energy suppliers between October and March.

Households that qualify may also be able to get the discount off their gas bill instead - if their supplier provides them with both gas and electricity, they simply need to contact them once the scheme opens to find out. If you're a credit customer, the £150 will be added to your electricity account and if you're on Pay As You Go or Prepayment, you'll be sent a voucher that you can use to top-up your meter.

WaterSure Scheme - £473

WaterSure is a scheme designed to assist some people with their water bills.

To apply for the scheme, you must be on benefits and need to use a lot of water either for medical reasons or because your household has a certain number of school-age children. You also need to be on a water meter or be waiting to have one installed.

If you get your water from Welsh Water, you're covered by WaterSure Wales, which operates similarly to the English scheme. If you receive assistance through the WaterSure scheme, your water bill will be capped, meaning you will not pay any more than the average metered bill for the area your water company serves.

In some instances, your regular metered water bill might be lower than your provider's WaterSure cap. If this is the case, you'll only be charged for the amount of water you actually use.

The average annual water bill in England and Wales for the period from April 2024 to March 2025 stands at £473, or £1.29 per day, encompassing both water and sewerage services. You can inquire with your water company about their cap before applying.

Free TV licence - £169

A lesser-known benefit of ageing is the free TV licence - valued at £169. If you're 75 or older and claim Pension Credit, you're eligible for a free TV licence.

Even if you're visually impaired and haven't yet reached that age, you might still qualify for a discount. A TV licence is required to watch or record live programmes on any channel, including BBC channels, or to watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, whether live or downloaded, on your TV, computer, tablet or smartphone.

A standard TV licence costs £169.50 per year, so it's quite a saving if you're eligible.

Carer's Allowance - £4,000

Carer's Allowance, worth up to £4000, is another benefit. There are millions of carers in the UK earning low or no pay, many of whom miss out on crucial support in the form of Carer's Allowance or Carer's Credit.

If you care for someone for at least 20 hours a week, you could significantly boost your State Pension by thousands of pounds or even be entitled to nearly £4,000 a year.

If you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they receive certain benefits, you could be eligible for £81.90 a week. It's not necessary to be related to or live with the person you're caring for.

However, if you care for more than one person, there's no additional payment. If another person also cares for the same individual as you, only one of you can claim Carer's Allowance.

Transport concessions - £142

People possessing a Senior Railcard save an average of £142 annually, according to government data. The Senior Railcard is available to travellers aged 60 or over and can be applied for on the National Rail website.

Once you reach the State Pension age in England, you qualify for a free bus pass. London residents can travel for free on buses, tubes and other transport when they turn 60, but this is only applicable within London.

In Wales, you can get a bus pass when you hit 60.

On average, a person with a concessionary bus pass made 64 journeys in the year leading up to March 2023. This equates to an annual saving of £128, considering the current average bus ticket price of £2.

Free prescriptions and eye tests - £118

Once you reach 60, you can get free prescriptions from your local pharmacy - prescriptions usually cost £9.90 each in England. So if you usually buy a single prescription each month you could save £118.80 over the year.

Household Support Fund - £550

The Department of Work and Pensions has outlined who is eligible for the extended Household Support Fund. The fund, which has been extended until the end of September, will aid thousands nationwide.

It's designed to offer extra support for households grappling with the rising cost of living. Families who qualify for this scheme can get financial assistance to cover essential costs, including food, utilities like gas, electricity, and water, and essentials related to energy and water such as warm clothing and boiler repairs.

The amounts that different households can receive vary between local authorities.