The State Pension provides financial support for 13 million across the UK – here are the benefits you can no longer claim when you reach State Pension age
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released new figures showing that the State Pension is now providing crucial financial support to 13 million people across Great Britain. The regular payment is currently worth up to £230.25 per week for those on the New State Pension (claimed after April 6, 2016), or £176.45 each week for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B).
The amount someone receives from this contributory benefit depends on the number of National Insurance years they have accumulated before reaching the current retirement age of 66 – a minimum of 10 years is required to qualify for any State Pension payment. For older individuals nearing the official retirement age this year, it’s vital to understand which benefits will continue, which new ones you may now be eligible for, and those you can no longer apply for, reports the Daily Record.
Your State Pension age is the same as your Pension Credit qualifying age unless you are a man born before December 6, 1953. You can verify your State Pension age and whether you can begin claiming Pension Credit on the ‘Check your State Pension age’ page of the GOV.UK website here.
Benefits affected by your pension age
Turn2us has compiled a comprehensive guide to the benefits you cannot claim from the DWP when you reach State Pension age or Pension Credit age. For complete details on each of the topics listed below, visit the Turn2us website here.
Upon reaching the State Pension age, individuals face several changes regarding their eligibility for benefits
Pension Credit age
When you reach State Pension age you can no longer claim:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
Turn2us warns: “If you live with a partner and one of you is pension age and the other is not yet pension age, benefit entitlement can be complicated.”
To navigate this complex area, it’s recommended to use the Turn2us benefit calculator to determine which benefits you qualify for or to seek assistance from a benefits adviser.
State Pension age
There are specific benefits you can no longer claim once you hit State Pension age:
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Contributory/New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
A new claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) isn’t possible after reaching State Pension age.
However, existing recipients of DLA or PIP can renew their claim post-State Pension age, provided it’s for the same health conditions awarded previously and the renewal occurs within 12 months after their last claim ended, and they have reached State Pension age.
Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance also become unavailable when you reach State Pension age.
Benefits not affected by your State Pension age
You can claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age:
- Child Benefit (delivered by HMRC)
- Carer’s Allowance – you may not be eligible for the full financial element depending on your income from State Pension
- Guardian’s Allowance
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
You can also claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age, but only if you meet the benefit-specific income threshold:
- Pension Age Winter Heating Payment – Scotland only, same qualifying rules as Winter Fuel Payment
- Winter Heating Payment – Scotland-only
- Housing Benefit
- Cold Weather Payment – England and Wales only
- Warm Home Discount Scheme
- Council Tax Support
- Support for Mortgage Interest
- Help with Health Costs
- Winter Fuel Payment – only those over State Pension age in receipt of Pension Credit or other qualifying income-related benefits will receive the money from this year
- Pension Credit
For more details about benefits when you reach State Pension age, visit the Turn2Us website here.
