Moving on to State Pension from ESA

GradyCole

Have there been rule changes recently about transfers from ESA to State Pension?

A couple of years ago a friend was moved on to Pension Credit from ESA, two years before their State Pension was due

They received a letter from the DWP offering to seamlessly make the change

Another friend is due to get their State Pension in a couple of years but has heard nothing

Has there been a rule change?

NedS

There was a change in the law for couples, whereby previously a couple could claim Pension Credit once one member of the couple reached state pension age. Now both members of the couple must be of state pension age to claim pension credit. The law changed a few years ago.

Your friend is a couple years off yet, but they must apply to receive their state pension, they will not automatically just receive it. They will usually be invited to apply about 3-4 months beforehand (others who have recently been through the process may be able to advise you better).

Their ESA will automatically end once they reach state pension age.

Once they have reached State Pension age (often referred to as Pension Credit Age), if their income is under the threshold for Pension Credit, they can apply for Pension Credit.

Details for all of the above can be found on the GOV.uk website.

https://www.gov.uk/get-state-pension

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit

GradyCole

 Thanks for the reply

They have done all you suggest

But has there been a rule change?

There was definately a period of at least two years when the other colleague was on a form of 'Pension Credit' before switching to full State Pension at the appropriaprate age

NedS

GradyCole said:

 Thanks for the reply

They have done all you suggest

But has there been a rule change?

There was definately a period of at least two years when the other colleague was on a form of 'Pension Credit' before switching to full State Pension at the appropriaprate age

Yes, see above where I have edited my original reply to add more information.
Was your colleague a member of a couple where their partner had reached state pension age (e.g, their partner reached state pension age two years before they did)?

GradyCole

No, they were single...

As is the other colleague

Thanks

NedS

Then they will stay on ESA until they reach state pension age.

p00hsticks

GradyCole said:

 Thanks for the reply

They have done all you suggest

But has there been a rule change?

There was definately a period of at least two years when the other colleague was on a form of 'Pension Credit' before switching to full State Pension at the appropriaprate age

Was your colleague male by any chance ?

I may be wrong but I have a feeling that when the pension age between men and women was being equalised by gradually raising womens state pension age from 60 to 65, in order to avoid charges of inequality men were eligible for certain benefits such as pension credit, bus passes etc as soon as they reached the age where they would have been eligible for State Pension if they were a woman, even if they didn't yet qualify in their own right.

By the end of 2018 the State Pension Age was the same for men and women so it's no longer relevant.

Silvertabby

p00hsticks said:

GradyCole said:

 Thanks for the reply

They have done all you suggest

But has there been a rule change?

There was definately a period of at least two years when the other colleague was on a form of 'Pension Credit' before switching to full State Pension at the appropriaprate age

Was your colleague male by any chance ?

I may be wrong but I have a feeling that when the pension age between men and women was being equalised by gradually raising womens state pension age from 60 to 65, in order to avoid charges of inequality men were eligible for certain benefits such as pension credit, bus passes etc as soon as they reached the age where they would have been eligible for State Pension if they were a woman, even if they didn't yet qualify in their own right.

By the end of 2018 the State Pension Age was the same for men and women so it's no longer relevant.

This was indeed the case.

If Mr S had had a twin sister, she would have received her State pension at 63 years and 4 months whereas Mr S's SPA was 65.

However, as part of the transitional arrangements, 63 years and 4 months was his pension credit age.

We obviously didn't qualify for means tested pension credit as such, but he was still entitled to non means tested winter fuel allowance and a bus pass and - the biggee - 2 years of 'free' NI credits which gave him an additional £10 per week State Pension from SPA.

GradyCole

Silvertabby said:

p00hsticks said:

GradyCole said:

 Thanks for the reply

They have done all you suggest

But has there been a rule change?

There was definately a period of at least two years when the other colleague was on a form of 'Pension Credit' before switching to full State Pension at the appropriaprate age

Was your colleague male by any chance ?

I may be wrong but I have a feeling that when the pension age between men and women was being equalised by gradually raising womens state pension age from 60 to 65, in order to avoid charges of inequality men were eligible for certain benefits such as pension credit, bus passes etc as soon as they reached the age where they would have been eligible for State Pension if they were a woman, even if they didn't yet qualify in their own right.

By the end of 2018 the State Pension Age was the same for men and women so it's no longer relevant.

This was indeed the case.

If Mr S had had a twin sister, she would have received her State pension at 63 years and 4 months whereas Mr S's SPA was 65.

However, as part of the transitional arrangements, 63 years and 4 months was his pension credit age.

We obviously didn't qualify for means tested pension credit as such, but he was still entitled to non means tested winter fuel allowance and a bus pass and - the biggee - 2 years of "

as part of the transitional arrangements

'free' NI credits which gave him an additional £10 per week State Pension from SPA.

"as part of the transitional arrangements"


Thanks

That seems to explain the disparity