State pension

Briantaxi

Hi I am on universal credits but I turn 66 in July. My wife is 57 so don't qualify for pension credit. But my state pension will be more than my £877 per month universal credit and 560 rent. So am I better not claiming my state pension or would I still get housing benefit as I think my state pension will be £996 as I get carers onto my u c and lcfw. Please can someone advise me

Kimi87

Mixed age couples are a complex area, so you are best to speak to a trained benefits advisor

https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

Lauren29

I would advise you to speak to a benefits adviser and ask them to carry out a benefit calculation. My understanding is that if you do not claim your state pension then Universal Credit will treat you as if you are receiving this and deduct the amount that you would have received £ for £. You can't claim Housing Benefit as you are a mixed age couple.

chiarieds

Hi @Angel59 - yes, with 40 years NI contributations you'll get the full New State Pension of £230.25 a week. Also correct, that as you get the daily living component of PIP, then you could get an extra £82.90 a week (for disability): https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/what-youll-get

chiarieds

Hi again @Angel59 - altho you will get the full amount of State Pension, as you get the daily living component of PIP (it doessn't matter which rate a person receives), & as you live alone, you are entitled to the lower rate of the 'Guarantee credit' part of Pension Credit.

You can see about this here in one of the DWP's Decision Makers Guides (DMG) Chapter 78 if you scroll down to section 78034: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67ffb8deb73354468d135552/dmgch78.pdf

which says,

Lower rate
Claimants who have no partner
78034 [see DMG memo 02/25] Claimants with no partner are treated as being severely disabled and are entitled to the lower rate of additional amount for the severely disabled if

1. they are in receipt of
   1.1 “AA” or
   1.2 the care component of DLA at the highest or middle rate or
   1.3 the daily living component of PIP at the standard or enhanced rate or
   1.4 the daily living component of ADP at the standard or enhanced rate or
   1.5 AFIP and
2. there are no persons aged 18 or over
   2.1 normally residing with the claimant or
   2.2 who the claimant normally resides with (see DMG 78065 et seq) and
3. no one is entitled to and in receipt of CA, or UC that includes the carers element, in respect of caring for them

So, so long as you don't have anyone getting Carer's Allowance (CA) or the carer element of Universal Credit (UC) for looking after you, you could receive up to £82.90 a week, so it's definitely worth applying.

You will also get the Winter Fuel Payment for the following winter after you reach State Pension Age.

Try Age Concern's Benefits check to get an estimate (putting in your future State Pension amount, PIP monies, savings, etc): https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/pension-credit/

Hope this helps

chiarieds

Hi @Angel59 - You can try Age Concern's online benefit checker, as suggested, to get an estimate at any time. Just add the info as if you were already getting your State Pension. Scroll down from this link to find their benefit checker https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/pension-credit/

Their benefit checker will also let you know about any other help that may be available. You'll definitely meet the criteria for being eligible for the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit from the info you've given here 😊

chiarieds

The Guaranteed Credit part of Pension credit is up to £82.90 as everyone's circumstances will be different.