Which benefits can I claim if I am retired?

janwilliams

Hi
ive been retired from work due to ill health since 2014. I started claiming pip about 5 years ago.
my question is can i claim esa if i pay my national insurance up to date? Or is there anything else i can claim.
my husband is now retired and gets a pension we have some savings but things are tight.

Rosie_Scope

Hello @janwilliams

Welcome to the online community. Sorry to hear you and your husband are struggling financially. 

Have you tried using a benefits calculator? They can help you find out if you are entitled to claim any support and can give you a rough idea of how much you might receive. 

The Turn2us Benefits Calculator is a good place to start.

As your husband claims a pension, you might also find it useful to read Scope's information about how pensions affect benefits.

I hope things get better for you soon!

bg844

Using the link above, check entitlement to benefits that way. Just to check, is your husband above pension age and you are below? The reason I am asking is because there's some special rules on certain benefits with 'mixed-age' couples. Have you also worked in the last two tax years and paid class 1 NI?

janwilliams

Hi
yes my husband is above and I’m below pension age.
no I haven’t worked since 2014

chiarieds

Hi @janwilliams - I don't know for sure if you can pay any National Insurance to help with a new style ESA claim. You can pay them to contribute towards your State Pension. My understanding is also that you need to have worked (employed or self employed) in the past 2 financial years. You can check your NI contributions here: https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

Do please check the benefits calculator that Rosie linked to: https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/survey/1/5c91f4f1-057e-4134-8144-7d23015c7b7d

It may be better for you to claim Universal Credit as a couple as you are below state pension age & part of a 'mixed age couple,' as bg844 has said: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/eligibility   look under 'If one of you has reached State Pension age.'

About new style ESA: https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/eligibility

janwilliams

Thank you for your help