Retirees will no longer be able to claim seven benefits once they reach the State Pension age. Currently set at 66, retirees won’t be able to claim a range of benefits available to the population that the government deems as working age, including Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), an unemployment benefit people can claim while looking for work.
Pensioners will no longer be able to access the income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), a means-tested benefit for those with a disability or health condition that affects the ability to work. The New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) also won’t be available, a benefit for people who are ill or have a health condition or disability that limits their ability to work.
Income Support and Universal Credit benefits will stop once retirees claim their State Pension, as well as Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance.
Turn2us, which has a benefits calculator, 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.”
Retirees will also not be able to make a new claim for certain benefits once they reach State Pension age, although they can be renewed.
This includes Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
If pensioners were already receiving DLA, PIP, or ADP, they can renew the claim as long as they are claiming for the same health conditions, and their last claim ended less than 12 months before they reached State Pension age.
Some benefits are not affected even if you are over State Pension age, including Child Benefits, the Carer’s Allowance and Guardian’s Allowance.