The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says the State Pension is currently providing vital financial support to 13 million people across Great Britain.
At present, the regular payment amounts to 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).
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 people nearing the official retirement age this year, it's crucial 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 6 December 1953, reports the Daily Record.
Benefits influenced by your pension ageTurn2us 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.
Pension Credit ageWhen you reach State Pension age you can no longer claim:
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
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."
It suggests using its benefits calculator to check which benefits you could claim, or to seek advice from a benefits adviser. Upon reaching State Pension age, people can no longer start claims for certain benefits. New claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are not possible after reaching this milestone - however, if you are already receiving any of these benefits, you can reapply provided that it is for the same health condition as before and the last award expired less than a year ago.
Benefits not affected by your State Pension ageEven if you are over State Pension age, you can still claim these benefits:
- Carer's Allowance - you may not be eligible for the full financial element depending on your income from State Pension
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- Child Benefit (delivered by HMRC)
- Guardian's Allowance
Additionally, there are other benefits that you can claim if you meet the specific income threshold for each benefit:
- Housing Benefit
- Help with Health Costs
- Pension Credit
- Warm Home Discount Scheme
- Support for Mortgage Interest
- Child Tax Credit (HMRC)- you can't make new claims for this, but if you're already getting it you can carry on receiving it
- 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 - find out more here
- Working Tax Credit (HMRC) - you can't make new claims for this, but if you're already getting it you can carry on receiving it
- Cold Weather Payment - now replaced by new Winter Heating Payment in Scotland
- Council Tax Support
