Free Benefits for Over-60s in the UK: Your Checklist

What are you entitled to at 60 in the UK? More than most people realise. Free NHS prescriptions and sight tests start at 60 in England, and free bus travel starts at 60 in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London. Other benefits follow at State Pension age and at 75. Many people miss out because no one told them what to look for, so this guide brings everything together in one place. 💚

Some of these are automatic once you reach the right age. Others require an application. A few depend on your income. Working through this checklist takes less than an hour and could save you hundreds of pounds a year.

1. What you are entitled to at 60

Free NHS prescriptions

Are prescriptions free at 60? In England, yes. From your 60th birthday all your NHS prescriptions are free, automatically. You do not need to fill in a form or get a certificate. Tick the age box on the back of the prescription form, or tell the pharmacist your date of birth.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, NHS prescriptions are free for everyone, whatever their age. Our guide to free NHS prescriptions covers the other ways to qualify before 60.

Simple action: If you are 60 or over and have been paying for prescriptions in England, stop. You have been entitled to free prescriptions since your 60th birthday.

Free NHS sight tests

From age 60, you are entitled to a free NHS sight test every two years in England (more frequently if clinically needed). You are also entitled to a voucher towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses if you need them and are on a qualifying benefit.

Book your next sight test directly with any registered optician. Mention that you are 60 or over when you call.

💡 Tip: You may also be entitled to vouchers towards the cost of glasses if you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or certain other benefits. Ask your optician what you qualify for.

Free bus travel, if you live outside England or in London

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can get a free bus pass from 60. In London, the 60+ London Oyster photocard gives free travel on buses, the Tube and other TfL services from 60, outside the weekday morning peak.

2. From State Pension age (66): bus pass, Pension Credit, and Winter Fuel Payment

Free bus pass in England

In the rest of England, the free older person's bus pass starts at State Pension age. That is 66 for most people now, rising to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028 for those born on or after 6 April 1960. Use the State Pension age checker on Gov.uk to find your exact date.

The pass gives you free travel on local buses anywhere in England from 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays, and all day at weekends and bank holidays. Some councils add extra hours in their own area.

Simple action: Apply through your local council. Enter your postcode on Gov.uk to find the right page.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit is a means-tested top-up for people on a low retirement income. It becomes available from State Pension age and is one of the most underclaimed benefits in the UK.

The Guarantee Credit element tops your weekly income up to at least:

• £238.00 if you are single
• £363.25 if you have a partner

(2026/27 rates)

Pension Credit is worth checking even if you think you have too much income or savings to qualify. There is no upper savings limit, and the first £10,000 of savings is ignored completely. It also opens the door to other help, including a free TV licence (if you are 75 or over), help with NHS dental and eye care costs, and a Cold Weather Payment.

Simple action: Check your eligibility and apply on Gov.uk or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.

Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Payment helps with heating costs over winter. For winter 2026 to 2027, you can get it if you were born on or before 27 June 1960 and usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Most people are paid automatically in November or December.

It is worth between £100 and £300, depending on your age and who you live with. If your own income is over £35,000, you still receive it, but HMRC takes it back through the tax system. Your partner's income does not count towards that figure.

If you live in Scotland, you cannot get the Winter Fuel Payment, but you may be eligible for the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead. Check mygov.scot for details. Our guide to the Winter Fuel Payment explains the amounts for couples and when you need to claim.

3. From age 75: free TV licence

If you are 75 or over and you (or your partner at the same address) receive Pension Credit (either Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit), you are entitled to a free TV licence.

You can apply for the free licence from age 74 if you are already receiving Pension Credit. Contact TV Licensing on 0300 790 6117 or apply at tvlicensing.co.uk.

If you are 75 or over but do not currently receive Pension Credit, it is worth checking whether you are eligible. Claiming Pension Credit would also make you eligible for the free TV licence.

Simple action: If you are approaching 75 and already receive Pension Credit, contact TV Licensing now so your free licence is in place before your 75th birthday.

4. Council tax: discounts worth checking

Council tax discounts do not depend on age, but two are particularly relevant for people in their 60s and 70s.

Single person discount

If you are the only adult living in your home, you are entitled to a 25% reduction on your council tax bill. This applies regardless of age. If you have recently separated, had a partner move into care, or become widowed, check whether you are now eligible.

Simple action: Contact your local council to apply. This discount is not applied automatically.

Council Tax Reduction

Council Tax Reduction (sometimes called Council Tax Support) is a means-tested reduction available from your local council if you are on a low income. The rules vary by council, but if you are receiving Pension Credit you may qualify for a significant reduction; in some areas this covers the full bill.

Apply directly through your local council's website or in person at a council office.

5. How to check what you are missing

The benefits system is fragmented, and the overlap between different entitlements is not always obvious. The easiest way to get a full picture of what you could be claiming is to use the free Age UK benefits calculator, which covers the main national benefits as well as many local ones.

You can also call the Age UK Advice Line on 0800 678 1602, which is free and open 8am to 7pm, every day of the year.

6. Quick answers

What are you entitled to at 60 in the UK?

In England: free NHS prescriptions and free NHS sight tests. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: a free bus pass (prescriptions are already free for everyone there). In London: the 60+ Oyster photocard for free travel within London.

Do you automatically get free prescriptions at 60?

Yes, in England. There is no form to fill in. Tick the age box on the back of the prescription or tell the pharmacist your date of birth.

Do pensioners pay for prescriptions?

Not in England, as long as they are 60 or over, and not anywhere else in the UK.

When do you get a free bus pass in England?

At State Pension age, which is 66 now and rising to 67 between 2026 and 2028. London is the exception, with free travel in the city from 60.

What benefits start at 66?

The State Pension, the free bus pass in England, Pension Credit if your income is low, and the Winter Fuel Payment if you were born on or before 27 June 1960.

There is no downside to checking. These benefits exist to support you, and many people who qualify are not claiming them. 💛

For more detail on Pension Credit, including how it interacts with other income and how to make a claim, see our guide to Pension Credit. For a plain English guide to what the NHS provides free once you reach 60, see our guide to free NHS prescriptions. If you are based in Ireland, our guide to free benefits for over-60s in Ireland covers the equivalent entitlements there. Browse more Una guides for plain English help with money and benefits in retirement.