The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will scrap four benefits when you reach state pension age, it has been warned. Current law allows for State Pension age for men and women to increase from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046 but this timetable could be changed by the government.
The State Pension age is currently 66 years old for both men and women but will start gradually increasing again from 6 May 2026. There are also some benefits that you can claim at any age as an adult. When you reach State Pension age, you can no longer claim Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Universal Credit and Income Support.
Basic State Pension is available to people who reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016 if they paid enough national insurance contributions. New State Pension is available to people who reach State Pension age on or after April 6, 2016 if they paid enough national insurance contributions.
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Attendance Allowance can be claimed if you are pension age or over and you have care needs. Pension Age Disability Payment can be claimed if you are pension age or over, have care needs and live in certain areas in Scotland. Pension Credit can be claimed once you or your partner have reached Pension age. Pension Credit is for older people on a low income. From May 15, 2019, you will only usually be able to claim Pension Credit if both you and your partner are over Pension Credit age.
You cannot make a new claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Adult Disability Payment or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) once you have reached State Pension age. If you were already claiming DLA, Adult Disability Payment or PIP, you can renew the claim even though you are over State Pension age.
This is as long as you are claiming for the same health conditions and your last claim ended less than one year ago. DLA claimants who were born before April 8, 1948 will not be transferred to PIP, while other claimants will be transferred to PIP.