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Poverty and deprivation · 3 measures

People receiving Pension Credit

Part of Poverty and deprivation in Portsmouth

Each measure shows its latest figure, how it compares and its trend. The geography is named on every card.

Portsmouth

People receiving Pension Credit

4,287 claimants March 2026

Down 19% since May 2018 (5,320).

Official statistics

Trend, comparison and definition

What this answers: How many Portsmouth pensioners receive Pension Credit?

People receiving Pension Credit

May 2018 to March 2026

Portsmouth · claimants

Reviewed figures: May 2018 to March 2026.

Shown on this chart: From May 2018 to March 2026, people receiving Pension Credit fell by 19.4% in Portsmouth and fell by 17.8% in England.

Both places compared over May 2018 to March 2026, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Actual values

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

People receiving Pension Credit · claimants
PeriodPortsmouthSouthamptonChichesterWinchesterSouth EastEngland
2026-034,287 claimants4,877 claimants2,276 claimants1,622 claimants150,933 claimants1,173,654 claimants
2025-114,314 claimants4,924 claimants2,309 claimants1,612 claimants151,777 claimants1,179,476 claimants
2025-084,322 claimants4,914 claimants2,319 claimants1,620 claimants151,778 claimants1,180,244 claimants
2025-054,338 claimants4,910 claimants2,327 claimants1,626 claimants151,871 claimants1,181,196 claimants
2025-024,371 claimants4,938 claimants2,344 claimants1,647 claimants152,447 claimants1,185,106 claimants
2024-114,357 claimants4,879 claimants2,332 claimants1,633 claimants151,878 claimants1,181,055 claimants
2024-084,271 claimants4,761 claimants2,214 claimants1,597 claimants147,986 claimants1,154,388 claimants
2024-054,296 claimants4,719 claimants2,215 claimants1,602 claimants147,229 claimants1,149,313 claimants
2024-024,326 claimants4,747 claimants2,211 claimants1,616 claimants147,763 claimants1,153,410 claimants
2023-114,334 claimants4,802 claimants2,217 claimants1,647 claimants148,757 claimants1,160,826 claimants
2023-084,336 claimants4,832 claimants2,234 claimants1,648 claimants149,290 claimants1,165,874 claimants
2023-054,328 claimants4,835 claimants2,251 claimants1,639 claimants149,322 claimants1,167,258 claimants
2023-024,323 claimants4,794 claimants2,217 claimants1,643 claimants148,231 claimants1,161,284 claimants
2022-114,364 claimants4,803 claimants2,231 claimants1,649 claimants148,778 claimants1,166,824 claimants
2022-084,347 claimants4,812 claimants2,229 claimants1,629 claimants148,412 claimants1,165,926 claimants
2022-054,290 claimants4,783 claimants2,229 claimants1,613 claimants147,228 claimants1,160,528 claimants
2022-024,317 claimants4,825 claimants2,231 claimants1,615 claimants148,360 claimants1,171,282 claimants
2021-114,395 claimants4,913 claimants2,271 claimants1,635 claimants150,488 claimants1,188,173 claimants
2021-084,438 claimants4,975 claimants2,290 claimants1,655 claimants152,058 claimants1,202,132 claimants
2021-054,490 claimants5,024 claimants2,290 claimants1,673 claimants153,301 claimants1,213,094 claimants
2021-024,529 claimants5,094 claimants2,315 claimants1,708 claimants154,698 claimants1,224,509 claimants
2020-114,647 claimants5,183 claimants2,377 claimants1,739 claimants158,378 claimants1,249,181 claimants
2020-084,684 claimants5,233 claimants2,412 claimants1,742 claimants159,596 claimants1,261,761 claimants
2020-054,715 claimants5,256 claimants2,441 claimants1,760 claimants160,670 claimants1,271,009 claimants
2020-024,779 claimants5,344 claimants2,481 claimants1,794 claimants163,307 claimants1,295,491 claimants
2019-114,853 claimants5,409 claimants2,507 claimants1,824 claimants165,732 claimants1,314,967 claimants
2019-084,921 claimants5,457 claimants2,539 claimants1,856 claimants167,474 claimants1,329,979 claimants
2019-054,959 claimants5,496 claimants2,574 claimants1,859 claimants169,127 claimants1,343,967 claimants
2019-025,046 claimants5,599 claimants2,620 claimants1,874 claimants171,593 claimants1,362,574 claimants
2018-115,125 claimants5,701 claimants2,665 claimants1,929 claimants174,790 claimants1,387,438 claimants
2018-085,220 claimants5,781 claimants2,706 claimants1,943 claimants177,274 claimants1,407,562 claimants
2018-055,320 claimants5,871 claimants2,736 claimants1,986 claimants180,059 claimants1,428,206 claimants

Definition: People receiving Pension Credit (the claimant; a partner is not counted separately) in the area, from DWP Stat-Xplore "Pension Credit - Data from May 2018" (2021 census-based geography). Quarterly snapshots, labelled by the month DWP gives.

  • Pension Credit tops up a low income for people over State Pension age. Many people who are entitled do not claim it, so the count shows take-up as well as need.
  • The age at which people can claim rose from 60 (before April 2010) to 65 (November 2018) and 66 (October 2020), and is rising to 67 from May 2026. Each rise removes a year-group from the people who can claim, so falls partly reflect the age change.
  • For winter 2024/25 the Winter Fuel Payment in England and Wales was limited to people on Pension Credit or certain other benefits, and the government ran a campaign urging people to claim. Changes from late 2024 partly reflect that.

Series breaks: 2018-05: Series starts May 2018, when DWP moved Pension Credit statistics to a new data source and geography. The earlier series (to February 2018) is a separate measure. 2018-12: Pension Credit qualifying age reached 65 in November 2018 and began rising to 66 in December 2018 (reached October 2020). 2026-05: State Pension and Pension Credit qualifying age began rising from 66 to 67 in May 2026.

Department for Work and Pensions: Stat-Xplore: Pension Credit - Data from May 2018 ↗ · Quarterly from May 2018; latest quarter on Stat-Xplore at retrieval Mar-26. Response SHA-256 prefixes by place: E06000044 521e2dc09d7d; E06000045 201eedf86037; E07000225 1b686f3ab08a; E07000094 2f8309c1c97b; E07000123 1ecb590db188; E06000010 b6c1ab214fa6; E12000008 d67a5d7ce082; E92000001 750b9356f936 (source.sha256 is Portsmouth's) · retrieved 2026-11-09

Portsmouth

People receiving Pension Credit, per 100 people aged 66 and over

14.1 claimants per 100 people aged 66+ November 2025

2.9 per 100 people aged 66+ higher than England (11.2).

Down 1.5 per 100 people aged 66+ since February 2021 (15.6).

  • 5,439 people receiving Pension Credit, 2003 to 2018 (February 2018)

Official statistics

The numbers over time (1)

People receiving Pension Credit, 2003 to 2018

People receiving Pension Credit, 2003 to 2018

November 2003 to February 2018

Portsmouth · claimants

Reviewed figures: November 2003 to February 2018.

Shown on this chart: From November 2003 to February 2018, people receiving Pension Credit, 2003 to 2018 fell by 10.3% in Portsmouth and fell by 16.3% in England.

Both places compared over November 2003 to February 2018, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Actual values

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

People receiving Pension Credit, 2003 to 2018 · claimants
PeriodPortsmouthSouthamptonChichesterWinchesterSouth EastEngland
2018-025,439 claimants5,966 claimants2,827 claimants2,025 claimants184,107 claimants1,458,388 claimants
2017-115,541 claimants6,128 claimants2,887 claimants2,090 claimants188,230 claimants1,490,730 claimants
2017-085,641 claimants6,203 claimants2,939 claimants2,117 claimants191,378 claimants1,514,771 claimants
2017-055,726 claimants6,307 claimants2,993 claimants2,162 claimants194,134 claimants1,537,496 claimants
2017-025,800 claimants6,445 claimants3,010 claimants2,198 claimants197,133 claimants1,562,855 claimants
2016-115,941 claimants6,612 claimants3,069 claimants2,246 claimants201,361 claimants1,595,558 claimants
2016-086,031 claimants6,733 claimants3,109 claimants2,280 claimants204,228 claimants1,618,935 claimants
2016-056,120 claimants6,875 claimants3,140 claimants2,331 claimants207,051 claimants1,643,269 claimants
2016-026,322 claimants7,102 claimants3,251 claimants2,413 claimants213,709 claimants1,695,243 claimants
2015-116,397 claimants7,251 claimants3,313 claimants2,437 claimants217,286 claimants1,722,470 claimants
2015-086,448 claimants7,344 claimants3,361 claimants2,466 claimants220,056 claimants1,743,613 claimants
2015-056,539 claimants7,467 claimants3,390 claimants2,504 claimants223,115 claimants1,766,697 claimants
2015-026,743 claimants7,740 claimants3,517 claimants2,613 claimants231,677 claimants1,834,269 claimants
2014-116,860 claimants7,884 claimants3,565 claimants2,646 claimants236,023 claimants1,868,562 claimants
2014-086,917 claimants7,967 claimants3,624 claimants2,673 claimants238,637 claimants1,888,729 claimants
2014-057,004 claimants8,057 claimants3,675 claimants2,727 claimants241,343 claimants1,910,973 claimants
2014-027,250 claimants8,284 claimants3,791 claimants2,793 claimants248,764 claimants1,968,736 claimants
2013-117,361 claimants8,392 claimants3,852 claimants2,833 claimants252,319 claimants1,994,630 claimants
2013-087,403 claimants8,445 claimants3,879 claimants2,854 claimants254,441 claimants2,011,431 claimants
2013-057,486 claimants8,531 claimants3,937 claimants2,886 claimants256,739 claimants2,030,109 claimants
2013-027,622 claimants8,701 claimants4,009 claimants2,949 claimants261,946 claimants2,071,731 claimants
2012-117,725 claimants8,839 claimants4,080 claimants2,997 claimants265,631 claimants2,099,621 claimants
2012-087,782 claimants8,909 claimants4,127 claimants3,028 claimants267,537 claimants2,116,384 claimants
2012-057,857 claimants8,995 claimants4,161 claimants3,058 claimants269,962 claimants2,135,415 claimants
2012-028,076 claimants9,282 claimants4,276 claimants3,147 claimants277,362 claimants2,196,676 claimants
2011-118,115 claimants9,409 claimants4,300 claimants3,190 claimants280,101 claimants2,220,683 claimants
2011-088,185 claimants9,486 claimants4,304 claimants3,218 claimants281,578 claimants2,233,158 claimants
2011-058,253 claimants9,536 claimants4,334 claimants3,226 claimants282,893 claimants2,245,136 claimants
2011-028,299 claimants9,609 claimants4,344 claimants3,234 claimants284,471 claimants2,260,445 claimants
2010-118,394 claimants9,695 claimants4,407 claimants3,260 claimants286,997 claimants2,279,515 claimants
2010-088,445 claimants9,724 claimants4,430 claimants3,272 claimants288,044 claimants2,287,644 claimants
2010-058,463 claimants9,740 claimants4,409 claimants3,280 claimants288,163 claimants2,292,406 claimants
2010-028,504 claimants9,768 claimants4,402 claimants3,291 claimants288,168 claimants2,292,626 claimants
2009-118,508 claimants9,743 claimants4,402 claimants3,312 claimants288,701 claimants2,295,791 claimants
2009-088,484 claimants9,720 claimants4,348 claimants3,329 claimants288,280 claimants2,292,882 claimants
2009-058,469 claimants9,706 claimants4,329 claimants3,313 claimants287,579 claimants2,286,584 claimants
2009-028,429 claimants9,711 claimants4,308 claimants3,319 claimants285,911 claimants2,280,366 claimants
2008-118,436 claimants9,759 claimants4,332 claimants3,359 claimants286,643 claimants2,286,604 claimants
2008-088,421 claimants9,736 claimants4,369 claimants3,345 claimants285,723 claimants2,279,150 claimants
2008-058,410 claimants9,713 claimants4,359 claimants3,337 claimants285,043 claimants2,275,632 claimants
2008-028,415 claimants9,770 claimants4,382 claimants3,354 claimants285,269 claimants2,278,617 claimants
2007-118,445 claimants9,833 claimants4,404 claimants3,353 claimants285,814 claimants2,286,524 claimants
2007-088,450 claimants9,837 claimants4,425 claimants3,345 claimants285,955 claimants2,287,638 claimants
2007-058,405 claimants9,827 claimants4,413 claimants3,351 claimants285,278 claimants2,286,537 claimants
2007-028,349 claimants9,807 claimants4,429 claimants3,326 claimants284,420 claimants2,284,696 claimants
2006-118,302 claimants9,845 claimants4,429 claimants3,349 claimants284,907 claimants2,290,841 claimants
2006-088,231 claimants9,827 claimants4,426 claimants3,339 claimants283,523 claimants2,282,309 claimants
2006-058,181 claimants9,767 claimants4,407 claimants3,340 claimants281,990 claimants2,273,337 claimants
2006-028,126 claimants9,677 claimants4,393 claimants3,309 claimants280,322 claimants2,267,025 claimants
2005-118,109 claimants9,627 claimants4,401 claimants3,312 claimants280,249 claimants2,266,435 claimants
2005-088,069 claimants9,543 claimants4,386 claimants3,250 claimants278,881 claimants2,256,801 claimants
2005-058,027 claimants9,509 claimants4,333 claimants3,204 claimants276,790 claimants2,244,508 claimants
2005-027,898 claimants9,409 claimants4,262 claimants3,176 claimants273,454 claimants2,220,625 claimants
2004-117,850 claimants9,326 claimants4,213 claimants3,170 claimants271,027 claimants2,200,654 claimants
2004-087,757 claimants9,189 claimants4,132 claimants3,110 claimants266,907 claimants2,169,379 claimants
2004-057,372 claimants8,705 claimants3,933 claimants2,972 claimants254,339 claimants2,084,656 claimants
2004-026,696 claimants7,843 claimants3,571 claimants2,664 claimants230,036 claimants1,910,937 claimants
2003-116,061 claimants6,932 claimants3,155 claimants2,296 claimants205,510 claimants1,743,003 claimants

People receiving Pension Credit, from DWP Stat-Xplore "Pension Credit - Data to February 2018" (older 2001/2005-based geography). Quarterly from November 2003, when Pension Credit began, to February 2018.

Trend, comparison and definition

What this answers: Out of every 100 Portsmouth residents aged 66 and over, how many receive Pension Credit?

People receiving Pension Credit, per 100 people aged 66 and over

February 2021 to November 2025

Portsmouth · claimants per 100 people aged 66+

Reviewed figures: February 2021 to November 2025.

Shown on this chart: From February 2021 to November 2025, people receiving Pension Credit, per 100 people aged 66 and over fell by 9.6% in Portsmouth and fell by 9.7% in England.

Both places compared over February 2021 to November 2025, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Actual values

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

People receiving Pension Credit, per 100 people aged 66 and over · claimants per 100 people aged 66+
PeriodPortsmouthSouthamptonChichesterWinchesterSouth EastEngland
2026-03––––––
2025-1114.1 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+5.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2025-0814.1 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+5.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2025-0514.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.7 claimants per 100 people aged 66+5.9 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2025-0214.3 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.7 claimants per 100 people aged 66+5.9 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.3 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2024-1114.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2024-0814.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+5.9 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.1 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2024-0514.3 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.1 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+5.9 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.1 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.1 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2024-0214.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.1 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2023-1114.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2023-0814.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.7 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.7 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2023-0514.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.7 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.7 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2023-0214.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.3 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2022-1114.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.7 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.3 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2022-0814.7 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2022-0514.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.7 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2022-0214.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+14.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+11.7 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2021-1115.1 claimants per 100 people aged 66+15.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+7 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+12 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2021-0815.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+15.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+7.1 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+12.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2021-0515.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+15.5 claimants per 100 people aged 66+7.1 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+8.9 claimants per 100 people aged 66+12.3 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2021-0215.6 claimants per 100 people aged 66+15.8 claimants per 100 people aged 66+7.2 claimants per 100 people aged 66+6.7 claimants per 100 people aged 66+9 claimants per 100 people aged 66+12.4 claimants per 100 people aged 66+
2020-11––––––
2020-08––––––
2020-05––––––
2020-02––––––
2019-11––––––
2019-08––––––
2019-05––––––
2019-02––––––
2018-11––––––
2018-08––––––
2018-05––––––

Definition: People receiving Pension Credit (the claimant; a partner is not counted separately) in the area, from DWP Stat-Xplore "Pension Credit - Data from May 2018" (2021 census-based geography). Quarterly snapshots, labelled by the month DWP gives. Divided by the ONS mid-year population aged 66 and over (aged 65 and over minus aged 65; Nomis NM_2002_1) for the same calendar year and place. Shown only for quarters from 2021 to April 2026, when the qualifying age was 66 throughout.

  • Pension Credit tops up a low income for people over State Pension age. Many people who are entitled do not claim it, so the count shows take-up as well as need.
  • The age at which people can claim rose from 60 (before April 2010) to 65 (November 2018) and 66 (October 2020), and is rising to 67 from May 2026. Each rise removes a year-group from the people who can claim, so falls partly reflect the age change.
  • For winter 2024/25 the Winter Fuel Payment in England and Wales was limited to people on Pension Credit or certain other benefits, and the government ran a campaign urging people to claim. Changes from late 2024 partly reflect that.
  • A couple usually receives one award, so this is claims per 100 older people, not the share of older people in a household on Pension Credit. The rate is computed here; DWP does not publish it.
  • Population source: Population estimates - local authority based by single year of age (NM_2002_1), Mid-year estimates 2013 to 2025 as held on Nomis at retrieval; sha256 dae531f074a8.

Series breaks: 2021-02: Rate starts in the first quarter of 2021, after the qualifying age reached 66 in October 2020.

Department for Work and Pensions: Stat-Xplore: Pension Credit - Data from May 2018 ↗ · Quarterly from May 2018; latest quarter on Stat-Xplore at retrieval Mar-26. Response SHA-256 prefixes by place: E06000044 521e2dc09d7d; E06000045 201eedf86037; E07000225 1b686f3ab08a; E07000094 2f8309c1c97b; E07000123 1ecb590db188; E06000010 b6c1ab214fa6; E12000008 d67a5d7ce082; E92000001 750b9356f936 (source.sha256 is Portsmouth's) · retrieved 2026-11-09

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