DWP benefits you can’t claim when you reach State Pension age

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As the cost of living crisis continues, many Britons are looking at ways to help ease the strain – and that may include any Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits they’re entitled to.

There are particular groups of people more harshly affected by the rising costs of everything from bills to household essentials, including those from the elder generation.

Thankfully, there are a number of helping hands for older people with certain DWP benefits becoming eligible when you reach State Pension age, which is currently 66 for men and women in the UK.

These include Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) which replaces PIP in Scotland.

However, when you reach Pension Credit and State Pension age, there are a number of benefits you can no longer claim.

But which ones are they? These are the benefits you stop receiving when you reach State Pension age.

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Income-based JSA and New Style JSA both stop when you reach State Pension age.

JSA is a benefit for people who are not in full-time employment – either not at all or work less than 16 hours per week – and are both capable of working and looking for work.

There are two types of JSA, one based on your income and the New Style system which is not means tested.

To be eligible for JSA, you need to:

• Be 18 or over – there are some exceptions if you’re 16 or 17
• Be under the State Pension age
• Not be in full-time education
• Be available for work
• Not be working at the moment, or be working less than 16 hours per week on average
• Not have an illness or disability which stops you from working
• Live in England, Scotland, or Wales.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Both income-based and New Style ESA stop as soon as you hit State Pension age.

ESA is a helping hand for people whose ability to work is diminished because of sickness or disability but they do not get Statutory Sick Pay.

Like JSA there are two types of ESA – income-based, and New Style which is not means tested.

To be eligible for ESA, you need to have:

• Worked as an employee or have been self-employed
• Paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last two to three years – National Insurance credits also count.

Income Support

Income Support is another benefit that stops when you hit 66 in the UK.

It is a means-tested benefit designed to help those who do not have enough money to live on, and is not available to those who claim JSA or ESA.

The benefit is being replaced by Universal Credit – more on that below. This means that you can no longer make a new claim for Income Support.

Universal Credit

Lastly, when you hit State Pension age you can no longer claim Universal Credit.

It is a means-tested benefit that can be paid whether or not you are in work, and is for those who are of working age but on low income.

Universal Credit has replaced six means-tested benefits, also known as legacy benefits, which are Income Support, income-based JSA, income-based ESA, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, and Working Tax Credit.

To claim, you must:

• Live in the UK
• Be aged 18 or over – there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
• Be under State Pension age
• Have £16,000 or less in money, savings, and investments.

Which benefits can you claim at 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 and meet the eligibility criteria for the benefit:

• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Support
• Support for Mortgage Interest
• Working Tax Credit (HMRC) – you can’t make new claims for this, but you will still receive payments if you’re already getting it
• Child Tax Credit (HMRC) – you can’t make new claims for this, but you will still receive payments if you’re already getting it
• Help with Health Costs
• Cold Weather Payment – now replaced by a new £50 payment in Scotland
• Warm Home Discount Scheme
• Winter Fuel Payment

MORE : From Universal Credit to carer’s allowance, how to check what benefits you might be able to claim

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