The Department for Work and Pensions has released new figures showing that the State Pension is now providing support to 13 million people across the UK
Some benefits stop being available when you reach State Pension age. It’s important to know what they are so you don’t get caught out – and which ones you can also start looking to claim.New figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveal that the State Pension is now supporting 13 million people across the UK. This regular payment currently stands at up to £230.25 per week for those on the New State Pension (claimed after 6 April 2016), or £176.45 each week for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B), reports the Daily Record.
The amount people receive from this benefit is based on the number of National Insurance years a person has accrued before hitting the current retirement age of 66. A minimum of 10 years is necessary to qualify for any State Pension payment.
For older people approaching the official retirement age this year, it’s important to comprehend which benefits will carry on, which new ones you may now qualify for and those you can no longer lodge a new claim for.
Your State Pension age coincides with your Pension Credit qualifying age unless you’re a man born before 6 December 1953. You can confirm your State Pension age and whether you’re eligible to start 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 put together an essential guide on the benefits you can’t get from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) once you hit State Pension age or Pension Credit age. For full info on each of the points below, check out the Turn2us website here.
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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.” They recommend using the Turn2us benefit calculator to ascertain which benefits you could be eligible for, or seeking assistance from a professional benefits adviser.
State Pension age impact on claims
Some benefits, like Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), aren’t up for grabs for new claims when you reach State Pension age.
But if you’re already on DLA or PIP, you can apply again after hitting State Pension age, as long as it’s for the same health issues as before, and your last claim finished less than a year before you got to the right age.
Benefits unaffected by State Pension age
There are still a range of benefits that remain claimable after surpassing State Pension age:
- Child Benefit (delivered by HMRC)
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- Guardian’s Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance – you may not be eligible for the full financial element depending on your income from State Pension
You can also claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age, but only if you meet the benefit-specific income threshold:
- Help with Health Costs
- Warm Home Discount Scheme
- Housing Benefit
- 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
- Support for Mortgage Interest
- Pension Credit
- Cold Weather Payment – England and Wales only
- Council Tax Support
For more details about benefits when you reach State Pension age, visit the Turn2Us website here.