Full list of benefits that stop when you reach State Pension age including Universal Credit – and what to claim instead
RETIREES should be aware that certain benefits will stop when you reach 66 and you will start to receive a state pension instead.
How much your state pension is worth will depend on the national insurance contributions you have made over the course of your working life.
You usually need 35 years of National Insurance contributions to qualify for the full state pension, which is £221.20 a week.
The state pension increased by 8.5% a week in April 2024 due to the triple lock guarantee.
The triple lock guarantee is a safeguard that means your state pension will not lose value because of inflation and will keep pace with rising living costs.
You do not have to start claiming your state pension as soon as you are 66, it is possible to defer.
But some benefits will definitely stop when you do reach the current retirement age of 66.
Here we explain how your benefits may become affected.
Which benefits stop at state pension age?
There are two main benefits which stop when you reach state pension age.
They are:
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Two further benefits available to the bereaved also stop:
- Bereavement Support Payment
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
You can also no longer claim Universal Credit when you reach retirement age but instead you should make a claim for Pension Credit.
Pension credit age is the same as the state pension age, unless you are a man born before 6 December 1953.
If you’re in a couple and are different ages then it’s when the youngest person reaches state pension age that joint Universal Credit claims will stop.
The state benefit also gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over the state pension age and on a low income.
How does the state pension work?
AT the moment the current state pension is paid to both men and women from age 66 - but it's due to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046.
The state pension is a recurring payment from the government most Brits start getting when they reach State Pension age.
But not everyone gets the same amount, and you are awarded depending on your National Insurance record.
For most pensioners, it forms only part of their retirement income, as they could have other pots from a workplace pension, earning and savings.
The new state pension is based on people’s National Insurance records.
Workers must have 35 qualifying years of National Insurance to get the maximum amount of the new state pension.
You earn National Insurance qualifying years through work, or by getting credits, for instance when you are looking after children and claiming child benefit.
If you have gaps, you can top up your record by paying in voluntary National Insurance contributions.
To get the old, full basic state pension, you will need 30 years of contributions or credits.
You will need at least 10 years on your NI record to get any state pension.
You can get up to £3.900 a year from claiming the help.
There are further benefits which you can’t make a new claim for after state pension age too – but if you are already claiming them, they won’t stop.
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
You can also renew a claim for them after state pension age, as long as it’s for the same issue and you previous claim ended less than one year ago.
Which benefits continue after state pension age?
There are plenty of benefits which continue after you reach retirement.
They include:
- Child Benefit
- Carer’s Allowance
- Statutory Sick Pay
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax support
- Support for mortgage interest
- Working tax credits (if you already get it, but not for new claims)
- Child tax credits (if you already get it, but not for new claims)
- Help with health costs
- Cold Weather payments
- Warm Home Discount Scheme
What else can I claim after state pension age?
As well as the state pension there are other benefits designed specifically for those in retirement.
These include Pension Credit which gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over the state pension age and on a low income.
It also gives you access to other benefits such as a free TV license if you are aged over 75 and the £300 winter fuel allowance.
If you are severely disabled and need someone to help look after you, there is also a benefit called Attendance Allowance which you can claim.
This is worth £72.65 a week if you need help either in the day or at night.
If you need help at all times of the day you can get up £108.55 a week.
It does not matter how much income or savings you have to claim this benefit.
You can find more information by visiting GOV.UK.
How to check what benefits you can get
You can use a benefits calculator to help you check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to.
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator works out whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credits and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
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