Does ESA continue after State Pension starts?

LateLearner22

Have tried doing an online benefits check, and now I'm even more confused  🤔

I didn't include ESA, and I did include our current Child Tax credit payment,  and it said we're entitled to £188pw, BUT husbands state pension is £178pw, so it's hardly worth claiming.  Plus, housing benefit or council tax benefit will be reduced by £15pw as we have a "spare bedroom" 🤔

I know claiming UC will give us automatic free school meals/uniform, dental treatment,  warm home discount, rent/council tax benefits etc but will we really be better off?

KxMx

For warm home discount it will very much depend on your supplier- there is no blanket automatic entitlement if on UC.

Our household has Mum's name on the bill (UC, basic rate) and I live here too (ESA IR Support Group), we don't qualify with our supplier currently.

The scheme is however being expanded next winter, with details yet to be announced.

poppy12345

LateLearner22 said:

I know claiming UC will give us automatic free school meals/uniform, dental treatment,  warm home discount, rent/council tax benefits etc but will we really be better off?

When you claim UC your rent will be included as part of your maximum UC entitlement, this is called "housing element"

If you claim UC before he reaches state pension age then he will be entitled to the LCWRA element as part of your UC entitlement. Whether there would be any UC entitlement will depend exactly how much housing element you're entitled to.

calcotti

LateLearner22 said:

I didn't include ESA, and I did include our current Child Tax credit payment,  and it said we're entitled to £188pw, BUT husbands state pension is £178pw, so it's hardly worth claiming.  Plus, housing benefit or council tax benefit will be reduced by £15pw as we have a "spare bedroom" 🤔

I'm not clear exactly what you mean. Entitled to £188/week of what?
If you do claim UC the Tax Credits will stop. 

To be clear - are you renting from the council or a housing association?

You need to remember that (I expect) the Housing benefit will stop so for comparison some sample calculations

Assuming no other income, no savings, one child and rent of £107/week with one spare bedroom

 Existing: ESA Support Group - £141.40, Tax Credit – £65.10, Housing Benefit - £92.02. Total £298.52

 With UC after pension age - Pension £178, Universal Credit £136/week (paid monthly). Total £314/week

 If you don’t claim UC after pension age - Pension £178, Tax Credits – 65.10. Total £243.10

If claiming UC is delayed until after pension age is reached so that the UC is not continuous with ESA then the UC will initially be lower and husband will have to have a Work Capability Assessment to see if he still meets the conditions for LCWRA.

Be aware that if you claim UC you will be treated as a jobseeker.