Hi, I'm Magicmaggi - Does LCWRA stop at state pension age and am I entitled to SDP?

Magicmaggi

Hi. I'm a low-income pensioner with chronic health conditions, in receipt of PIP at the enhanced rate. I'm struggling to make ends meet and am trying to ensure that I'm claiming every benefit I'm entitled to.

Before I reached state pension age I was receiving LCWRA. As soon as I was transferred from UC to my state pension, my LCWRA payments ceased. Am I not still entitled to receive them? And if so, whom do I approach to discuss these?

Also, am I entitled to receive the Severe Disability Premium? Or is it just one or the other (LCWRA or SDP)? And again, whom do I approach to discuss these? 

Thanks for your help - Maggi

Rosie_Scope

Hello @Magicmaggi, welcome to the community. I hope you're doing well today. 

I'm going to pop your post over into our benefits section so more members with the right knowledge can offer some advice, but I just wanted to say hello and welcome you first. I hope you'll find the community friendly and helpful

chiarieds

Hi @Magicmaggi - & welcome to the community, Maggi. LCWRA is an extra element, or extra amount of money on top of the standard allowance that is paid to some claiming UC. When you reach state pension age, then, as this LCWRA element is part of UC, then that ceases too (unless a person has a partner that hasn't reached state pension age).

Some are eligible for SDP with certain benefits such as income related ESA, & housing benefit; it isn't anything to do with UC.

Your PIP, as you will have realised, continues for as long as you're eligible, & past state pension age.

You could look to see if you're eligible for pension credit, which can help once past state pension age depending on your circumstances, & which may then offer additional help (housing benefit, council tax reduction, etc). You can see about eligiblity by checking online here: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility

If eligible, you can apply online here: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim

poppy123456

Are you living alone or with another adult? Does anyone claim either carers allowance or carers element of UC for looking after you?

Magicmaggi

Thank you Rosie, Chiarieds and Poppy for your responses - so quick and helpful! Poppy, I live alone, no-one claims carers' allowance for me and I have no dependants. Also, I have a small occupational pension from my late husband which puts me outside of pension credit. I only just came across SDP today whilst researching something else. I know I am not receiving it, I do receive PIP (enhanced, ten years), and were I to be awarded it, it would make a big difference. 

poppy123456

SDP will be paid as part of pension credit so no, you won’t be receiving it at the moment. 

Whether you’re entitled to Pension Credit will depend on how much your state pension and occupational pension is. 

SDP is £76.40/week. This means that if both of your pensions are less than £277.45/week there will be some entitlement to Pension Credit. There’s also a pension credit calculator you can use here https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator

If it shows entitlement then please use the link chiarieds posted above to claim.