If you claim benefits, you may not realise some payments will stop once you reach state pension age.
Your state pension age is the earliest age you can start claiming your state pension.
The current state pension age for women and men retiring now is 66, but it will rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028.
A further increase to 68 is due to happen between 2044 and 2046 but this could be brought forward.
When you reach state pension age, some of your existing benefits will stop - but you may become eligible for different payments.
There are also some benefits you can claim at any age.
We explain everything you need to know.
Which benefits stop when you reach state pension age?
National charity Turn2Us has listed the following benefits as the ones which stop when you hit state pension age:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
New Style Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance are not available once you reach state pension age.
Benefits you can keep claiming when you reach state pension age
You can claim these benefits even after you reach state pension age:
- Child Benefit
- Carer’s Allowance
- Guardian’s Allowance
- Statutory Sick Pay
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Support
- Support for Mortgage Interest
- Help with Health Costs
- Cold Weather Payment
- Warm Home Discount Scheme
You cannot make a new claim for the following benefits once you reach state pension age, but you can renew an existing claim:
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Adult Disability Payment
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
Benefits you can START claiming when you reach state pension age
The most obvious one is the state pension, of which there are two types depending on when you were born.
You claim the new state pension if you are a:
- Man born on or after 6 April 1951
- Woman born on or after 6 April 1953
The full new State Pension is worth £203.85 a week but you may get less depending on your National Insurance record.
You claim the basic state pension if you are a:
- Man born before 6 April 1951
- Woman born before 6 April 1953
The full basic state pension is £156.20 a week, again depending on your National Insurance record.
Other benefits you might be able to claim once you reach state pension age, depending on your income, health and circumstances are:
- Attendance Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Winter Fuel Payment
