When will i be expected to take my pension

Lady.Mo.of.the.Mead

I am on DLA, ESA and full HB, plus my husband claims carers allowance.

I am 58 and my husband is 60 this year, I have been claiming the above since 2004.

I do have in place an occupational pension from an employer that I worked with for many years. My question is at what age will I be expected to take this, I have never declared that I have a pension but I guess that DWP will know that there is one.

I don't really want to claim it yet, as I would rather wait and see what happens when my new claim goes in, it expires in November 2013.

I am not really sure whether to opt for the pension or continue to claim benefits, just want to know if the decision is likely to be taken out of my hands.

(Originally posted on Benefits Board)

xylophone

You might well be expected to take it at your Scheme Pension Age as otherwise you would be depriving yourself of income?

Lady.Mo.of.the.Mead

I was able to take it at 50, but I have calculated that I am better off on benefits just now, my question is can DWP insist that I take it now, rather than claim benefits.

dunstonh

I was able to take it at 50, but I have calculated that I am better off on benefits just now, my question is can DWP insist that I take it now, rather than claim benefits.

They cant insist you take it but they can and will reduce your benefits by the amounts of the pension if you dont. That is of course providing you have declared it and have been truthful in the declaration. They usually use scheme age as the point.

atush

You could have tekn it early (reduiced) and they can't force you to do that. But in theory (don't know about law) if you are at scheme age or will be at say 60, you would be expected to take it.

To not take it on purpose, just to get higher benefits may not be within rules. After all, you'd be asking the taxpayer to do for you what you can do for yourself?

So, check with a benefits advisor, somewhere like CAB, or on the benefits forum.

xylophone

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dmgch85.pdf
85400 onwards seems relevant.

whitesatin

I would have thought that you would be expected to use your own potential income when it is due rather than get it from benefits. If not, why not? You should make them aware of the pension as soon as possible, in my opinion. It may well be that you still get benefits, if your pension is not deemed to be enough. Just my humble opinion, of course, but it seems to make sense that you use your own income as soon as you can claim it.

mgdavid

Lady.Mo.of.the.Mead wrote: »

I am on DLA, ESA and full HB, plus my husband claims carers allowance.
I am 58 and my husband is 60 this year, I have been claiming the above since 2004.
I do have in place an occupational pension from an employer that I worked with for many years. My question is at what age will I be expected to take this, .......)

it isn't difficult or complicated. Your occupational pension will have a set of Rules and a Normal Retirement age. That's when you are expected to take it, and that's the point when you declare it and your benefits may reduce. Pension schemes usually have a facility to take it early, and a mathematical formula to calculate how much less it will be (as you would be paid it for longer if you start sooner). This is not 'normal' and the various benefits agencies will not expect you to do this.
So go back to the people that run the occupational pension scheme, find out when your Normal Retirement Age is, and do nothing til then.

Lady.Mo.of.the.Mead

whitesatin wrote: »

I would have thought that you would be expected to use your own potential income when it is due rather than get it from benefits. If not, why not? You should make them aware of the pension as soon as possible, in my opinion. It may well be that you still get benefits, if your pension is not deemed to be enough. Just my humble opinion, of course, but it seems to make sense that you use your own income as soon as you can claim it.

As it is only your opinion I will ignore it, I was looking for definite facts not opinions. The post after yours is exactly what I needed.

mjdh1957

95% of posts on internet forums, even those that purport to be factual, are opinions.

It's the equivalent of asking the drinkers in a pub for advice - not something totally to be relied on.

Real advice usually costs money....

atush

It seems to me this is not a pension enquiry, but a benefits one. So head over there.

and this is of course my opinion, but if benefits are so generous that thousands can be saved- means the benefits are far too generous.