A number of DWP benefits can no longer be claimed after you reach State Pension age, including Jobseeker’s Allowance and Carer’s Allowance for those in Scotland
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released the latest figures showing that the State Pension is now providing crucial financial support to 13 million people across Great Britain, including over one million residing in Scotland.
This regular payment is currently valued at 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. In other related news, DWP state pensioners are set to be given ‘extra £352’ completely free.
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For older people nearing the official retirement age this year, it’s vital to understand which benefits will continue, new ones you may now be eligible for and those you can no longer submit a new claim for.
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, reports the Daily Record.
Benefits affected by your pension age
Turn2us has compiled an essential guide to the benefits you cannot claim from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) when you reach State Pension age or Pension Credit age. For comprehensive details on each of the topics listed below, visit the Turn2us website here.
Pension Credit age
Upon reaching State Pension age, there are certain benefits you can no longer claim:
Turn2us advises: “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.” You can use the Turn2us benefit calculator to see what benefits you’re entitled to, or seek assistance from a benefits adviser.
READ MORE: DWP to issue extra payments worth up to £519 to families this winter
State Pension age
Once you reach State Pension age, you can no longer claim:
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Contributory/New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
New claims for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) – the devolved disability benefit has now replaced all new claims for PIP for people in Scotland – cannot be made once you have reached State Pension age.
However, if you were already receiving DLA, PIP, or ADP you can renew the claim even though you are over State Pension age. This can only be done as long as you are claiming for the same health conditions you received the award for and your last claim ended less than 12 months before you reached State Pension age.
People living in Scotland currently receiving DLA or PIP will be transferred to the new devolved Social Security Scotland system this Spring. Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance are also not available once you reach State Pension age.
Benefits not affected by your State Pension age
Even if you are over State Pension age, you can still claim these benefits:
- 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)
Even if you’re over State Pension age, you can still claim these benefits provided you meet the specific income threshold for each benefit:
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Support
- Support for Mortgage Interest
- Help with Health Costs
- Winter Heating Payment – Scotland-only
- Cold Weather Payment – England and Wales only
- Warm Home Discount Scheme
- 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 Age Winter Heating Payment – Scotland only, same qualifying rules as Winter Fuel Payment
For further information about benefits when you reach State Pension age, visit the Turn2Us website here.