ESA v Pension credit

themajor2

Hi everybody.. I need some advice.. I just got a letter from Jobcentreplus giving me the option of changing my benefit from ESA {awaiting assessmet} to Pension Credit as I will be the minimum state pensionable age on jULY 18th 2018  What is the difference between the two in terms of what I receive in benefits v pension?... I will be getting minumum state pension because I am missing many NI contributions.. Thank you in advance

CockneyRebel

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit

Sam_Alumni

There is a pension credit calculator here that might help?

[Deleted User]

Hi themajor2

I agree with Sam.  Try doing a benefits check with a small lie in there - tell the benefits check that you are 65 today and see what the result is.

My guess would be that your entitlement to pension credit  might be the same as your current entitlement to ESA. At the moment, probably, you are already pension credit age, so your ESA should have an addition included in the calculation to make your benefit income up to the amount you would get on pension credit.

The advantage of having received ESA up until July is that you will have had some national insurance credits added to your national insurance account, so that this should have added to the number of years on which your state pension from later this year will be calculated.

If you see what I mean.

Complicated!

Please let me know if this is right or not.

Best wishes

Gill_Scope

atlas46

Hi

Have got a state pension forecast?

If not, you should get one.

This will show how many years contributions you have.

There has been changes to state pension contributions that improve the position like yours.  You need expert advice, Age UK have a free helpline and have local advisors to help you.

Please seek their help.

Come back if you need anymore assistance, it can become complicated.

Best wishes.