State Pension age changes - State Pension age and benefits

Your age may affect which benefits you can claim. When you reach State Pension age, you can start claiming some benefits but some other benefits will stop. There are also some benefits that you can claim at any age (as an adult).

Your State Pension age is the same as your Pension Credit age unless you are a man born before 6 December 1953. You can check your State Pension age and whether you can start claiming Pension Credit on the Check your State Pension age page of the GOV.UK website.

Benefits affected by your State Pension age

Benefits you can claim when you are State Pension age:

New State Pension is available to people who reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 if they paid enough National Insurance contributions.

Basic State Pension is available to people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 if they paid enough National Insurance contributions.

Attendance Allowance is available to people who have reached State Pension age and have care needs. In Scotland, it has been replaced by the Pension Age Disability Payment.

Pension Credit is available to people who have reached State Pension age and have a low enough income. If you live with a partner, you will usually both need to have reached State Pension age. If one partner is younger, you may be able to claim Universal Credit instead. You can use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator to see what is available to you. There are some exceptions, so get advice before ending an existing claim. 

A Winter Fuel Payment is available to people who have reached State Pension age. It's a one-off payment of between £100 and £300 per year towards winter heating costs. If your individual income is over £35,000, HMRC will normally recover the payment. In Scotland, it has been replaced by the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

Benefits you can claim when you are old enough: At age 80+

The Winter Fuel Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment amount increases when you reach 80 years old. 

Other help you can claim when you are old enough

At age 60+ 

When you are 60 or over, you are eligible for a Senior Railcard so you can pay cheaper fares on national rail. For more information, visit the Senior Railcard website.

State Pension age

Free local bus transport is available once you have reached State Pension age. You can apply for a pass from your local council. You can find your local council’s website on the Find your local council page on the GOV.UK website.

At age 75+

If you are 75 or over and getting Pension Credit, you are entitled to a free TV licence. Visit our TV and Telephone Costs guide for more information.

Benefits you can't claim when you reach State Pension age 

Universal Credit, New Style Jobseeker's Allowance and New Style Employment and Support Allowance usually stop when you reach State Pension age. However there are some exceptions, for example if you live with a younger partner, you may continue getting Universal Credit until you are both over State Pension age. 

You cannot make a new claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment once you have reached State Pension age. However if you were already claiming PIP or Adult Disability Payment, you can renew the claim even though you are over State Pension age, as long as you are claiming for the same health conditions and your last claim ended less than one year ago.

Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance are not available once you reach State Pension age.

Benefits not affected by your State Pension age

You can claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age:

• Child Benefit
• Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment
• Guardian’s Allowance
• Statutory Sick Pay

You can claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age as long as your income is low enough:

• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Support
• Support for Mortgage Interest
• Help with Health Costs
• Cold Weather Payment
• Warm Home Discount Scheme
• Winter Heating Payment (Scotland)
• Child Winter Heating Payment (Scotland)