People reaching State Pension age can no longer claim certain benefits, including Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance, and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), according to guidance from the charity Turn2us.
The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show the State Pension is now providing essential financial support for 13.2 million people across Great Britain, including more than 1.1 million living in Scotland.
This regular payment is worth up to £241.30 per week for those on the New State Pension (claimed after April 6, 2016), or £184.90 each week for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B).
State Pension Age and Eligibility
How much someone receives from the contributory benefit depends on the number of National Insurance years they have accrued before reaching retirement age — you need at least 10 to qualify for any State Pension payment. It is important to be aware the State Pension age has now started a phased rise from 66 to 67.
The UK Government has also changed the way in which the increase in State Pension age is implemented, so rather than reaching State Pension age on a specific date, people born between March 6, 1961 and April 5, 1977 will be able to claim the State Pension once they reach 67.
The change to the official age of retirement has been in legislation since 2014 with a further rise from 67 to 68 set to be implemented in the mid-2040s.
Benefits You Cannot Claim After Pension Age
Turn2us has created an essential guide to the benefits you cannot claim from the DWP when you reach State Pension age or Pension Credit age.
When you reach Pension Credit age you can no longer claim:
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
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."
When you reach State Pension age you can no longer claim:
- Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Contributory/New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
You cannot make a new claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) — the devolved disability benefit has now replaced all new and existing claims for PIP for people in Scotland — 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.
Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent's Allowance are also not available once you reach State Pension age.
Benefits Not Affected by 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 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
- Pension Age Winter Heating Payment — Scotland only, same qualifying rules as Winter Fuel Payment
For more details about benefits when you reach State Pension age, visit the Turn2us website.
