Transition from ESA(IR) Support Group - State Pension /Pension Credit

userinfo1

Could someone please advise I am helping a person with there Pension and Pension Credits.

The person has received a letter from the DWP to invite them to apply for there State Pension as will hit the age in a few months time.


However I am very confused on when to apply;

State Pension : - I understand can be applied up to 3 months prior to hitting retirement age.

Pension Credit:- This is the one I am confused about. Can you apply for Pension Credit up to 3 months prior to hitting Pension age or have to hit the age and then apply for it.

I am just concerned and you know what the DWP are like that before anything gets sorted that the current ESA(IR) Support Group payments get messed around with before the person hits pension age  or that they come back and decline Pension Credit as technically is not on State Pension until a few months time.

 When would you advise to apply for the State Pension and then apply for Pension Credit? The person can ill afford to be messed around with money?

calcotti

Claim State Pension as soon as permissible which is up to four months before reaching pension age
https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/how-to-claim

You can also claim Pension Credit up to four months before reaching pension age 
https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim seem logical to Seems best to claim once the State Pension application has been made.

Neither claim will affect ESA because neither are paid until pension age is reached.

Just to check, you are dealing with a single claimant, not someone with a partner?

userinfo1

Yes its a single claim.... and assume can be done for them online?

calcotti

userinfo1 said:

Yes its a single claim.... and assume can be done for them online?

Yes, online. Follow the links as included in my post.

Alex_Alumni

Hi @userinfo1 and welcome to the community! I hope @calcotti was able to answer your queries, but do say if you do have any questions, or if would like to join in with other discussions then please feel free.

Alex

wilko

Hello, yes get the pension and pension credit sorted out in advance as once the person reaches pension age the ESA stops and if the other financial issues are not in place they will have no income. The DWP are pretty good at sorting these thing out we only hear of the bad cases.