State benefits and ill health retirement pension

vigman

Unfortunately I am in the process of applying for ill health retirement (Tier 1) at the age of 58. It will mean I am paid my LGPS pension as if I had worked until 65 but it won't amount to much as I have not been in employment for many years.

Can anyone tell me please if I am entitled to any non-means tested state benefits during the period I could/should have been working? (I am able to look after myself so don't mean carer's or attendance allowances).

I say 'non-means tested' as my wife an I own a holiday home and have some savings.

TIA

Vigman

xylophone

http://www.sefton.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=6092 might help.

mazza111

Only thing I can think of is Contributions based ESA. Best to pop into job centre and ask

sleepless_saver

Run your info through this benefits checker to check your entitlements when you stop work.

Your occupational pension will affect the amount of any contribution based employment and support allowance (ESA) you might be entitled to.

If you have care or mobility needs you might be entitled to DLA which is not affected by your income, and can be claimed whether or not you are working.

vigman

Silly question No 793 BUT if I retire at 58 on ill health grounds, I take it that you no longer have to pay towards any form of NI contributions from then on??

TIA

Vigman

jennifernil

you don't pay NI on pensions, but if you take a job at all you will pay NI on that.

Chorlie

vigman wrote: »

Silly question No 793 BUT if I retire at 58 on ill health grounds, I take it that you no longer have to pay towards any form of NI contributions from then on??

TIA

Vigman

NI Contributions may effect you if you haven't paid / earned 30yrs worth of credits, if you haven't it will reduce your State Pension, but if you claim ESA you'll earn NI Credits as part of the benefit.


I retired on Ill Health Grounds 18 months ago, I'm now claiming Contribution Based ESA, but if you get a pension of more than £85 Gross Per Week your ESA amount will be reduced by half the amount over the £85 ie if pension is £100, ESA reduction will be £7.50, half of the £15 (£100-£85=£15). Contribution Based ESA - WRAG maybe (not set in law yet) limited to 12 months.


I also claim DLA, which I have done most of my life (before I had to retire), so it's worth looking into DLA or AA.

vigman

.....just looking back at this.

So if you have a gross occupational pension of 300 pw there is no point in claiming ESA?

[300-85 = 215 then divide by 2 = 107.50 deduction...which is over the max 99.85 that could be claimed??

Vigman

vigman

"If you have a gross occupational pension of 300 pw there is no point in claiming ESA?

[300-85 = 215 then divide by 2 = 107.50 deduction...which is over the max 99.85 that could be claimed??"


Can anyone, please advise.........?

TIA

Vigman

sleepless_saver

Your figures look correct (para 44652 of DWP decision makers guide).

However if you claimed ESA (Cont) then you would get NI credits which could be useful if you were short of the 30 years needed for full state pension. But you could pay those on a voluntary basis without claiming ESA.

vigman

sleepless_saver wrote: »

Your figures look correct (para 44652 of DWP decision makers guide).

However if you claimed ESA (Cont) then you would get NI credits which could be useful if you were short of the 30 years needed for full state pension. But you could pay those on a voluntary basis without claiming ESA.

Does this decrease in payment due to pension income apply to ESA paid through the contribution route claim (and not just the income related route), please?

I'd like to clarify this before wading through all the form filling (and am also checking that I have the 30 years NI contributions as well)

TIA

Vigman