The State Pension offers much-needed financial aid every four weeks for 12.6 million people across Great Britain, including approximately one million residing in Scotland. This regular payment of up to £203.85 per week for the maximum, New State Pension or £156.20 for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B) is open for those who have met the UK Government’s qualifying retirement age, which was enhanced to 66 for both genders in October 2020.

An incremental increase to 67 for those born on or after April 1960 will occur from 2026 to 2028. An additional increment to 68 is supposed to happen between 2044 and 2046, yet, there has been much conversation implying it might transpire sooner – a minimum of 10 years warning is needed before any changes can be implemented.

For anyone nearing the official retirement age this year in Glasgow, it is important to know which benefits will persist, new ones you may now be eligible for, and those you can no longer submit a new claim for.

Your State Pension age aligns with your Pension Credit age unless you are a man born before December 6, 1953. You can verify your State Pension age and whether you can commence claiming Pension Credit on the ‘Check your State Pension age’ page of the GOV.UK website here.

Benefits influenced by your pension age

Turn2us has formulated a crucial 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.

To access complete details on each of the areas listed below, check the Turn2us website here.

Pension Credit age

Once you achieve State Pension 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 dwell with a partner and one of you is of pension age and the other is not yet pension age, benefit entitlement can be complex.”

Use the Turn2us benefit calculator to determine what benefits you’re entitled to, or seek assistance from a benefits adviser.

State Pension age

Once you achieve State Pension age you can no longer claim:

  • Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Contributory/New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You cannot submit a new claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) – the new localized disability benefit replacing PIP for Scotland residents – once you have attained State Pension age in Glasgow.

However, if you were receiving DLA, PIP, or ADP you can renew the claim even though you are over State Pension age.

This can only happen if you are claiming for the same health conditions that you received the award for, and your last claim concluded less than 12 months before you achieved State Pension age.

The DWP has stated that DLA claimants who were born prior to April 8, 1948 will not be transitioned to PIP, however, those born post that date will be.

Residents in Glasgow currently receiving DLA or PIP will be transitioned to the new localized Social Security Scotland framework before 2025 concludes.

It’s worthwhile noting that 25 per cent of claims for ADP up until January 2023 were submitted by individuals aged between 55 and 64.

Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance are also not available once you achieve State Pension age.

Benefits not influenced by your State Pension age

You can claim these benefits despite your State Pension age:

  • Child Benefit (delivered by HMRC)
  • Carer’s Allowance – you may not be eligible for the full financial element depending on your earnings from State Pension
  • Guardian’s Allowance
  • Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

You can likewise 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
  • Working Tax Credit (HMRC) – you can’t make new claims for this, but if you’re already getting it you can continue to receive it
  • Child Tax Credit (HMRC)- you can’t make new claims for this, but if you’re already getting it you can continue to receive it
  • Assistance with Health Costs
  • Cold Weather Payment – now replaced by new £50 payment in Scotland
  • Warm Home Discount Scheme
  • Winter Fuel Payment

For more information on benefits when you accomplish State Pension age, visit the Turn2Us website here.