Child tax credits Managed migration State pension

Skyegirl121

Hi. I’ve migrated to UC from child tax credits after receiving a migration letter. I have a low income but savings over 16k.  Thought I had 12 months of transition protection that I would not receive less than I had been getting on ctc. But 3 months into this 12 months I will reach state pension age so my income will increase.  Nothing else changes, same address, same 2 children just my income and total income still below threshold for full ctc.  My work coach wrote saying my UC payments will stop at pension age and my transition protection ends too and even if I was still on ctc that would also stop as it is a working age benefit. I think he is wrong- ctc was not just for working age claimants.  Anyone know where I stand or where to go for expert advice…. Ctc phone number is useless 

HillStreetBlues

Skyegirl121 said:

Hi. I’ve migrated to UC from child tax credits after receiving a migration letter. I have a low income but savings over 16k.  Thought I had 12 months of transition protection that I would not receive less than I had been getting on ctc. But 3 months into this 12 months I will reach state pension age so my income will increase.  Nothing else changes, same address, same 2 children just my income and total income still below threshold for full ctc.  My work coach wrote saying my UC payments will stop at pension age and my transition protection ends too and even if I was still on ctc that would also stop as it is a working age benefit. I think he is wrong- ctc was not just for working age claimants.  Anyone know where I stand or where to go for expert advice…. Ctc phone number is useless 

Do you live with a partner?

peteuk

Skyegirl121 said:

Hi. I’ve migrated to UC from child tax credits after receiving a migration letter. I have a low income but savings over 16k.  Thought I had 12 months of transition protection that I would not receive less than I had been getting on ctc. But 3 months into this 12 months I will reach state pension age so my income will increase.  Nothing else changes, same address, same 2 children just my income and total income still below threshold for full ctc.  My work coach wrote saying my UC payments will stop at pension age and my transition protection ends too and even if I was still on ctc that would also stop as it is a working age benefit. I think he is wrong- ctc was not just for working age claimants.  Anyone know where I stand or where to go for expert advice…. Ctc phone number is useless 

Regardless of your age and your UC claim, your CTC will stop at the end of your three month migration period.  At that point unless your child is 19 and in full time education, or you are in a specific group in which migration is differed, then you will have no entitlement to CTC. 

If you are a mixed aged couple then your UC will continue pass State Pension Age. 

You are right in saying as you have over £16K in savings you would have a years transition protection, but if the capital remains over £16K at the end of the year, your UC claim will be closed. However if your UC claim closes because of your age, the transition period also closes. 

Spoonie_Turtle

If you are on your own or live with a partner who is already state pension age, you will be able to apply for Pension Credit which is much more generous than UC in the equivalent of the standard allowance, and no set maximum threshold for capital.

If you know what your State Pension amount will be, and any other continued income, you can put your details into a benefits checker as if you were already state pension age to see what you'd be entitled to.
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

[If you live with a younger partner then as said above your UC claim will continue anyway, although your State Pension would be taken fully into account and could potentially wipe out UC entitlement.]