From esa to state pension

kate12345

Hi 
I’ve receive tax credits  partner on c/b esa I work 14 hours a week we have a 16 year old son still at school partner also recieves small private pension 
Partner turns 66 next month and state pension will start can you tell how this will effect our monies please.
I’ve tried the 2 to us website and entitled to but can’t seem to get anywhere
many thanks 

woodbine

A long thread here 

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/73598/transitioning-from-esa-to-state-pension

calcotti

ESA will stop.
State Pension will start.
Tax Credits will continue (presumably Child tax Credits only). The amount you receive next year may change because your husband will (presumably) be receiving more money as SP than he does on c-ESA.

To use the entitledto website you would put in your existing details and see if the benefit amounts it produces match what you currently get.
You would then need to adjust your partner's birth date to pretend that he is already 66. That would allow you to enter State Pension information and remove the ESA to produce a new set of results.

kate12345

Hi thank you for such a quick reply
ive been told I would need to claim universal credit 

calcotti

kate12345 said: ive been told I would need to claim universal credit 

Who by? I don't think that's correct for Tax Credits because Tax Credits are not defined as either working age or pension age benefits and could always include mixed age couples. This is different to most DWP benefits and Housing benefits which are either working age or pension age benefits.

kate12345

Thank you just a friend said she
 Thought I had to claim universal credit 
also would you know anything about the mixed age rule there is 15 years between myself and my partner 

calcotti

kate12345 said:

Thank you just a friend said she
 Thought I had to claim universal credit 
also would you know anything about the mixed age rule there is 15 years between myself and my partner 

Please do not rely on what your friend has told you.
As I understand it the mixed age couple rules do not affect you because you are not claiming income based DWP benefits or Housing Benefit. As per my previous reply my understanding is that changes to benefits for mixed age couple do not affect Tax Credits.

As part of the process of phasing out Tax Credits you will at some point in the next few years you will be told that your Tac credits will end and you will be invited to apply for UC. However given the age of your child it is possible your tax Credits will have ended anyway before this happens.

kate12345

Thank you for all the information 
truly grateful 
happy new and best wishes