Extra money for people over state pension age - Hertfordshire County ...
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Extra money for people over state pension age This factsheet was produced in April 2019. See website for latest version.
Introduction If you are over state pension age the information in this factsheet will tell you about extra income you may be able to get. However, there are special rules for some people, for example, those who have come from abroad and people who are living in a care home. If in doubt, you should seek further advice from one of the organisations listed at the end of this factsheet. Major changes are happening in the benefit and tax credit system which are affecting older people. In particular the pension age is rising for both men and women and will reach 66 by October 2020 and 67 between 2026 and 2028 – see the appendix for further information. The rising pension age means there is a corresponding increase in the lowest age at which both men and women can claim pension credit and most other pension age benefits. This therefore means a rise in the maximum age that men and women have to claim ‘working-age’ benefits. A new benefit for working-age people, universal credit has replaced new claims for income support, income-based job seeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, housing benefit, working tax credit and child tax credit. Couples where one partner is under pension credit age, and the other over, currently have the option of claiming either pension credit or universal credit. However from 15th May 2019 both members of a couple must be over state pension age in order to qualify for pension credit. Mixed aged couples will have to claim universal credit instead although those couples entitled to pension credit or pension age housing benefit before that date will be protected until certain changes apply – see page 5 for more information. For more information about universal credit see our factsheet on www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits Pension Service The Pension Service provides information and benefits for people who have reached, or are over, pension credit age. It is part of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and provides a single point of contact. There are no local offices open to the public. You can phone the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469. Home visits may be offered to help fill in claim forms if necessary. Money Advice Unit 2 Issue 19 0300 123 4040 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
State pension State pension is a weekly benefit normally paid once you reach pension age. The age you can claim your state pension will depend on when you were born. See ‘Introduction’ above and the appendix for more details on retirement ages. You can also find out exactly when you will be able to claim your pension by using the calculator on www.gov.uk/state-pension-age The date you reached retirement age will also determine what type of state pension you get. State pension for those who reached pension age before 6 April 2016 If you reached state pension age before this date you may get a Category A pension which is paid on the basis of your national insurance contribution record. The basic rate is £129.20 a week. Some people get less than this, for example, because of long gaps in contribution records. However, some people get more than the basic rate, for example, if you earned a graduated pension in the past or if you get the additional state pension. This depends on your national insurance record and what you earned while you were working. Some people in occupational pension schemes used to be able to opt out of paying into the additional state pension; this is called ‘contracting out’. Some people who reached pension age before 6 April 2016 can get a Category B pension which is based on their spouse/civil partner’s (or late spouse/civil partner’s) national insurance record. This is worth £77.45 a week for spouse/ civil partner) or £129.20 a week for widows/widowers. If you reached state pension age before the introduction of the new state pension you will continue to receive your pension in line with the old rules, even if you deferred claiming (see below) until after 6 April 2016. New state pension - for those reaching state pension age after 6 April 2016 You may be able to get the new state pension if you are a man born on or after 6 April 1951 or a woman born on or after 6 April 1953. The full level for 2019-20 is £168.60 per week. You will need to have made national insurance contributions for least 10 years to qualify, 35 years to get the full amount. However, even if you have a full record, you Money Advice Unit 3 Issue 19 0300 123 4040 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
may get less if you have ‘contracted out’ of paying the full amount of national
insurance in the past (although since April 2016 people have no longer been able to
do this). Some people will get more than the new rate ie if they would have got more
under the old state pension scheme.
The new scheme does not allow you to receive a new state pension based on the
national insurance record of your spouse or civil partner other than in cases of
inherited pension for certain people and for some women who elected to pay
reduced rate national insurance contributions.
See www.gov.uk/new-state-pension for more information about the new state
pension.
Can I delay claiming my pension?
You can choose to take your state pension at a later date than your retirement age,
for example, if you want to continue working, or you have an occupational pension.
You may get extra pension if you defer but the amount you get depends on your age.
More information on deferring your pension is available on www.gov.uk/deferring-
state-pension
How to claim state pension
The Pension Service should automatically send you a letter telling you what to do
about four months before you reach retirement age. You can make a claim over the
phone: 0800 731 7898 (textphone 0800 731 7339) or claim online at
www.gov.uk/get-state-pension
Claims for state pension can be backdated for up to 12 months.
State pension statement
You can see how much pension you are likely to get via www.gov.uk/check-state-
pension or by requesting a state pension statement from 0800 731 0175.
Pension credit
Pension credit is a means-tested benefit for people over working age. This is
increasing in line with the state pension age. It is administered by the Pension
Service and has two parts:
guarantee credit aims to provide a minimum level of income to men and
women who have reached, or are over, the state pension age
savings credit is an extra payment for people over 65 who reached state
pension age before 6 April 2016
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www.hertfordshire.gov.ukPension credit is means-tested, so your income and savings will make a difference to the amount you can get. Mixed age couples Couples where one partner is under pension credit age, and the other over, currently have the option of claiming either pension credit or universal credit as a couple. However from 15 May 2019 both members of a couple must be over state pension age in order to qualify for pension credit. Mixed aged couples will have to claim universal credit instead. If you are in a mixed age couple and you are already claiming pension age benefits (pension credit or pension age housing benefit) before 15 May you can continue to receive pension age benefits as long as neither of you experience a change in circumstances which means you are no longer entitled to these benefits. If you are entitled to one of the pension age benefits on 14 May 2019 you are still able to claim the other benefit after that date, provided you haven’t stopped being entitled to the benefit you’re currently getting before you want to claim the other benefit. If you are a single person claiming pension age benefits and a partner moves in with you, if your partner is under state pension age, you’ll no longer qualify for the pension age benefits until they reach pension age. The normal three month time limit will still apply. People will have until 13 August 2019 to make a backdated claim for pension credit or pension age housing benefit. This means that claims made on or before 13 August can be backdated to before the rule change applies, provided you meet the entitlement conditions applicable on the earlier date. For more information about universal credit see www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits If you think you may be affected by these changes you should seek advice before the deadline above. Capital Pension credit has no upper capital limit. However, any capital above £10,000 will be assumed to generate £1 a week income for every £500 (or part of £500) that you have above this level. Guarantee credit The guarantee credit is a basic amount set by the government each year: £167.25 if you are single £255.25 for a couple Money Advice Unit 5 Issue 19 0300 123 4040 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
The Pension Service will refer to this in their letters to you as the appropriate
amount. Additional amounts may be added, for example, if you have a severe
disability, care for a severely disabled person, or, since 1 February 2019, look after
dependent children. – see page 15 for further information on whether dependent
children should be paid for by child tax credit or pension credit.
Your income is compared to your appropriate amount and if it is less you will be paid
the difference in guarantee credit.
Savings credit
*
If you reached state pension age before 6 April 2016 and are aged 65, or over, you
may be entitled to some savings credit. This can be paid with or without guarantee
credit. It will be paid if you have modest savings or extra pensions for your
retirement. The maximum savings credit you can get will be:
£13.72 if you are single £15.35 for a couple
If you are a couple where one person reached state pension age before 6 April 2016
and the other on or after 6 April 2016, you can only get savings credit if one of you
was already getting it immediately before 6 April 2016 and has been entitled to it at
all times since 6 April 2016.
Assessed income period
If you were already getting pension credit before 6 April 2016 an assessed income
period may have been set. This means that during this time you do not need to
report changes to pensions, annuities or capital as they happen. However, other
changes in circumstances still need to be reported, for example, when someone else
comes to live in your household.
Since 6 April 2016 the assessed income period has not been available for new
applicants and is being phased out for others
If you have an assessed income period that was due to end before 1 April
2019, it will now have ended - either on the original date on your pension
credit award letter, or earlier, if your household circumstances change..
If you have an assessed income period that is due to end between 1 April
2019 and 5 April 2021, it will end on an earlier date. The Pension Service will
send you a letter telling you the new end date 6 months in advance or you can
find the date on
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/45781
4/pension-credit-extra-info-dwpf201pc-0915.pdf
If you are aged over 75 and have an assessed income period with no end
date, it will remain in place until your household circumstances change.
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www.hertfordshire.gov.ukWhen your assessed income period ends you will need to tell the Pension Service about all changes to your circumstances, including pensions and savings etc. How to claim pension credit Phone the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234 (textphone 0800 169 0133) If you phone the Pension Service to claim pension credit, you can ask to start a claim for housing benefit/council tax support at the same time. Pension credit can be backdated for up to three months and you don’t need any special reasons for claiming late. Pension flexibilities and DWP benefits Since 6 April 2015, those aged at least 55 have had more flexibility about what you can do with any 'defined contribution' pension. This is where you build up a pot of money rather than the right to a pension (ie not a ‘defined benefit’ pension or state pension). However, there are important rules around how your pension, and any money you take from it, will be treated in the calculation of your entitlement to benefits. Income related benefits If you are under the qualifying age for pension credit, and you don't take any money from your pension pot, then it will not be taken into account when your benefit entitlement is worked out. If you do take money from your pension pot, it will be treated as either income or capital, depending on, for example, how regularly you withdraw it. Once you reach the qualifying age for pension credit, you are expected to use your pensions to help support yourself. If you choose not to buy an annuity, an amount of 'notional' income will be taken into account when your benefit is worked out. This is an amount equivalent to the income you would have received if you had bought an annuity. If you take an income from your pension pot, the amount which will be taken into account when assessing your benefit will be the higher of the actual income or notional income. If you take a cash lump sum, this will be taken into account as capital. If you spend, transfer or give away any money that you take from your pension pot, the DWP will consider whether you have deliberately deprived yourself of that money in order to secure (or increase) your entitlement to benefits. If it is decided that you have deliberately deprived yourself, you will be treated as still having that money and Money Advice Unit 7 Issue 19 0300 123 4040 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
it will be taken into account as income or capital when your benefit entitlement is worked out. Guidance to help you consider the pension options open to you can be found at www.pensionwise.gov.uk but you should seek specialist advice about the potential effect on any welfare benefits you receive. Housing benefit Housing benefit is paid by your local council to help people who live in rented accommodation meet the costs of their rent. It is means-tested so any income or savings you have may affect the amount that is paid. It has been replaced by universal credit for new claims for people of working age. If you are over pension credit age you can continue to make a new claim for pension age housing benefit although see page 5 if you are a couple and one of you is over state pension age and the other under. There are plans to incorporate rental costs for older people into pension credit at some point in the future. Who can claim? You must be liable for rent and have savings of £16,000 or less. However, if you are receiving the guarantee credit part of pension credit, the £16,000 capital limit does not apply and you will still be able to get full eligible housing benefit. How much is paid? As housing benefit is means-tested, the amount you could receive will depend on a number of factors including how much income and savings you have, the composition of your household, whether you are disabled or caring for a severely disabled person etc. Deductions for adults who live with you Your housing benefit may be less if other people, apart from your partner, share your home, for example, an adult son or daughter. However, if you are pension credit age and a non-dependant becomes part of your household, or an existing non- dependant’s income increases, the increase or deduction from your housing benefit will not be applied for 26 weeks. If you have a non-dependant living with you who gets pension credit, there will not be a deduction from your housing benefit for that person whether they work or not. There are also other circumstances where a non-dependent deduction won’t be applied, for example, if the person claiming housing benefit is registered blind or in Money Advice Unit 8 Issue 19 0300 123 4040 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
receipt of attendance allowance, the care component of disability living allowance or the daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP). Seek advice about this. How to claim Claim on a form from your local district or borough council or on form HCTB1 which comes with the pension credit application. You can ask for pension age housing benefit to be backdated for up to three months. You don’t need any special reason but must have been entitled during that period. If you are in a mixed age couple, where one of you is over state pension age and the other under, you should check that you are getting pension age housing benefit before May 15 in order to protect your entitlement to pension credit and pension age housing benefit after that point. Seek further advice. Rent restrictions If you rent from a private landlord your housing benefit is called a local housing allowance (LHA) and is capped at various levels depending on the location and size of the property. If you need an overnight carer, you will be able to include them in the calculation of how many rooms you need. For a list of the number of rooms you can claim for and the LHA rates in your local area please visit your local council’s website. If you are struggling to pay your rent you may be able to ask the housing benefit authority for a discretionary housing payment. Help with council tax There are three main ways for getting help to pay your council tax: discounts, a disability reduction or council tax support. You can get help through all three schemes at the same time, if you satisfy the conditions. Some homes are exempt from council tax altogether– seek further information from your local authority on this. Discounts The discount scheme looks at the number of adults in your home. If you live alone you get 25% discount. If you live with other people some of them may be disregarded, for example, people who are severely mentally impaired, certain types of carers and students. Money Advice Unit 9 Issue 19 0300 123 4040 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
Disability reduction You may be able to get a disability reduction if you need extra space in your home because a child or adult living in your home is disabled, for example, they need a second bathroom or kitchen, or you have changed the use of a downstairs room to a bedroom, or space is made to enable use of a wheelchair in the home. If you qualify for a reduction, your council tax bill is reduced to the amount payable for a home in the band below yours. If your home is in the lowest band, your bill is reduced by one- sixth. Council tax support If you are on a low income you may be able to get some help to pay your council tax. Each local council has its own scheme and in most areas many working age claimants have to pay something towards their council tax, even if they are on means tested benefits, although certain groups are protected. Council tax support is means tested and the amount you get depends on your income and your savings. If you have more than £16,000 then you are not eligible at all, unless you are getting pension credit (guarantee credit). Most local authorities also have a scheme called second adult rebate which does not depend on your or your partner’s income/savings but looks at other people who live in your home and takes into account their financial circumstances. You will get whichever benefit is worth more. If you are getting the guarantee credit part of pension credit you are eligible for full council tax support, but this can be reduced depending on who else lives with you and what their weekly income is. How to claim Your local council has claim forms for discounts, reductions and council tax support. You may be able to request backdating of your council tax support. If you are struggling to pay your council tax you may be able to get some short term help from the local authority’s council tax relief fund. Visit your local council’s website for more details about the particular scheme that operates in your area. Winter fuel payment This is a one off payment made each year to help with the cost of winter fuel bills. Most people who have reached, or are over, pension credit age in the qualifying week, beginning on the third Monday in September, can get a winter fuel payment. The payment is made between November and January. Money Advice Unit 10 Issue 19 0300 123 4040 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
How much is paid? For winter 2019-20 winter fuel payments will usually be £200 per household or £300 if a member of the household is over 80. How do I claim the winter fuel payment? If you are getting a state pension or another social security benefit (apart from housing benefit or council tax support) you should automatically receive a payment. If you do not get any of the above payments and think you are eligible you must claim before 31 March for the winter that has just passed. For more information telephone the Winter Fuel Helpline: 0800 731 0160 (textphone -0800 731 0464) or visit www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/what-youll-get Attendance allowance You may be able to claim Attendance allowance if you are at least state pension age which is gradually rising – see appendix. You may qualify if you have an illness or disability which means you need help throughout the day and/or night to look after yourself, or you need someone to keep an eye on you to keep you safe. The sort of things you might need help with include getting in/out of bed; washing; dressing; eating and drinking; moving around the house; getting to and using the toilet; taking medicines; seeing and communicating. You may also qualify if you need someone to keep an eye on you because you are forgetful, or easily confused, or at risk of causing harm to yourself or others. However you cannot receive attendance allowance for help with household chores such as gardening or cleaning. You do not actually have to be getting the help in order to qualify, but have to show that it is reasonably required (not medically required). You can still get attendance allowance even if you live alone. Attendance allowance is not means-tested so it doesn’t matter what other income or savings you have. It is also tax-free. Who can claim? You must be at least state pension age to claim attendance allowance - see www.gov.uk/state-pension-age If you are under this age please see the personal independence payment information below. You must usually have been in Great Britain for two out of the last three years. Money Advice Unit 11 Issue 19 0300 123 4040 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
You normally must have needed help for at least six months before attendance
allowance can be paid but there are special rules if you have a terminal illness and
these may mean you can claim sooner. A claim can be made on your behalf if you
cannot manage your own affairs.
How much is paid?
There are two levels of benefit. If you need help during the day or night then the
lower rate of £58.70 per week is paid. If you need help during both the day and
night, or you are terminally ill, then the higher rate of £87.65 per week is paid.
How to claim attendance allowance
You can get a claim pack by ringing 0800 731 0122 or from
www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/how-to-claim If you phone for a form and return it
within six weeks, benefit can be paid from the date of your call if you get a positive
decision.
It is very important that you give as much information as possible because the
decision on your claim is usually based on this and is made by a person who doesn’t
see you. You can send in additional evidence to support your claim if you wish, such
as a letter from a doctor or social worker.
Personal independence payment
Personal independence payment (PIP) has replaced disability living allowance (DLA)
for new claims for people aged 16 to state pension age whose disability or health
condition affects their ability to cope with daily living and getting around. If you are
awarded PIP you can spend it in the way that suits you best.
Since 6 December 2018 the old upper age limit at which you could make a new
claim for PIP (65) has been increasing in line with the state pension age – see
appendix.
PIP has two parts: one for daily living and one for mobility.
The daily living component has:
a standard rate if you have a limited ability to carry out daily living activities
£58.70 per week
an enhanced rate if you have a severely limited ability to carry out daily living
activities
£87.65 per week
The mobility component has:
a standard rate if you have a limited ability to carry out mobility activities
£23.20 per week
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www.hertfordshire.gov.uk an enhanced rate if you have a severely limited ability to carry out mobility
activities £61.20 per week
If you claim PIP before the upper qualifying age you will be able to stay on it after
you reach this age.
How to claim
Phone the DWP on 0800 917 2222 (textphone 0800 917 7777) to register your PIP
claim. During the phone call you will need to confirm your identity and provide basic
information such as details of your doctor, bank account and any recent periods
spent abroad, in hospital or in residential care.
After registering your claim you will be sent a form asking for information about your
disability or medical condition and how it affects you. Give plenty of detail and
examples of how you have difficulty with different activities. You can send in
additional evidence to support your claim, such as a letter from a doctor or social
worker.
Most claimants will be asked to attend a face-to-face consultation with an
independent health professional. People who have the most severe health conditions
or disabilities, or those who are terminally ill, are unlikely to need a face to face
consultation. This will be decided on a case by case basis.
Disability living allowance
Some people are still getting disability living allowance (DLA) which is a non-means-
tested benefit for people with a disability or long-term health problem. It is currently
being replaced by personal independence payment (PIP) for people aged from 16 to
state pension age.
If you are still getting DLA, were under 65 on 8 April 2013 and report a change in
your condition you will be told to apply for PIP. You can also ‘self select’ to apply to
transfer to PIP but seek advice first as you could be worse off.
If you were aged 65 or over on 8 April 2013, and already getting DLA, you can
continue to receive it. If your needs change you can also ask for an increase in
your DLA. If your DLA stops, you can reclaim it within one year of it ending.
Extra means-tested benefits
If you get attendance allowance, DLA or PIP, you may start to qualify for pension
credit, pension age housing benefit or council tax support, even if you have applied
in the past and been refused. If you are already getting these benefits, you may be
able to get extra money. You should notify the relevant benefit offices of the awards.
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www.hertfordshire.gov.ukAlternatively, your carer may be able to claim carer’s allowance or an extra amount for caring in their means-tested benefit. However if your carer is paid carer’s allowance this could stop you from qualifying for more help. You should always seek advice after an award of attendance allowance or PIP to ensure you do not miss out. For more information about attendance allowance and PIP please see www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits Carer’s allowance Carer’s allowance can be paid to you if you look after someone for at least 35 hours a week and the person you care for receives attendance allowance, DLA middle or highest rate care component or PIP either rate of the daily living component. You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you look after. You cannot earn more than £123 a week but, if you have a partner, their earnings don’t matter. How much is paid? The basic weekly benefit is £66.15 but you may not be paid any carer’s allowance if you are already getting the same amount or more of a non means-tested benefit, for example, state pension or contributory ESA. However, you should still have an ‘underlying entitlement’ to carer’s allowance, even if you don’t receive it. This may give you extra means tested benefit, such as pension credit, housing benefit or council tax support, or could mean that you become entitled to them for the first time. If you are in this position, you should always notify the Pension Service or other relevant benefit office of your ‘underlying entitlement’ so that you don’t miss out. How to claim You can get the DS700 claim form from the Carer’s Allowance Unit’s on 0800 931 0297. Alternatively, you can download the claim form or apply online at www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/how-to-claim If you claim carer’s allowance within three months of the date the person you look after receives their decision awarding DLA, PIP or attendance allowance, you can get your carer’s allowance backdated to the start date of their claim. Otherwise, you can only get carer’s allowance backdated for three months. Please note: by claiming carer’s allowance you may adversely affect the benefits of the person you look after. Always seek advice before making a claim. Money Advice Unit 14 Issue 19 0300 123 4040 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
Other help
Tax credits
New claims for tax credits have been abolished for most people
Since 1 February 2019 payments for dependent children have been included in
pension credit for those who have reached state pension age although those
receiving tax credits can continue to get them.
Phone the Tax Credit Helpline on 0345 300 3900 or see www.gov.uk for more
information about tax credits.
War pensions
These are paid if you have an illness or injury caused or made worse by service in
the armed forces. If you were a civilian and were injured during the Second World
War you may also get a pension. Prisoners of war may also be eligible. If you are a
dependant of someone who has died and falls into one of these categories you may
be eligible to claim a war pension.
For more information call Veterans UK 0808 1914 218 or visit
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk
Free ten-year passport
You are eligible for a free passport if you were born on or before 2 September 1929.
Phone 0300 222 0000 for more information or visit www.gov.uk/passport-fees
HertsHelp
Hertshelp can provide practical advice to help you manage at home and assistance
in a crisis,
You can find out more by contacting HertsHelp on 0300 123 4044 or visit
www.hertshelp.net
Health benefits
If you (or your partner) get pension credit (guarantee credit) then you do not have to
pay for:
NHS prescriptions (already free if aged 60 or over)
NHS dental treatment
travel to hospital for NHS treatment
sight tests (already free if aged 60 or over), and you will get a voucher
towards the cost of your glasses
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www.hertfordshire.gov.ukSome tax credit claimants can also automatically get health benefits – it will tell you this on your tax credit award notice. If you are not getting any of the above benefits, then you may qualify for help with health costs under the low income scheme. You should complete an HC1 form available from your doctor, dentist, optician or the Pension Service. Alternatively, you can phone the NHS Business Services Authority for a claim form on 0300 330 1343. If you qualify for full help you will be sent a HC2 certificate. If you get partial help then they will send you a HC3 certificate and you will need to show the certificate each time you have treatment. TV licences Free licences are issued to households with someone aged 75 or older. Travel concessions If you have reached, or are over, pension age you are entitled to free off-peak bus travel. Your local council may also offer concessions like free or reduced admission to council facilities. Contact them for further details. One-off payments If you get certain means tested benefits and need help with certain one-off expenses and are on a low income you may be able to get a loan or grant from the social fund, which is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions. Payments include sure start maternity grants, funeral grants and cold weather payments. If you have been on pension credit, income support, income-related ESA or income- based JSA for at least 26 weeks, you may also be able to get a budgeting loan to help with the cost of one-off items that you could not budget for from your weekly income. These are called budgeting advances if you are on universal credit. The minimum loan is £100 and the maximum amount depends on your domestic circumstances, whether you are single, part of a couple or have children. You must be able to repay the loan and must agree to the repayment terms before you can receive the loan. Payments are then deducted in instalments direct from your benefit. To make a claim from the social fund - phone 0800 169 0140 or download a claim form from www.gov.uk/budgeting-help-benefits/how-to-claim HertsHelp may also be able to assist if you need help in a crisis. Phone HertsHelp on 0300 123 4044 – more information available on www.hertshelp.net/ Money Advice Unit 16 Issue 19 0300 123 4040 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
Challenging decisions If you are unhappy with a decision about your benefits you can usually ask for it to be looked at again or you can formally appeal against the decision to an independent tribunal. You must ask for a mandatory reconsideration first before you can put in an appeal for most benefits. If you are successful, any change is normally backdated to the time of the original wrong decision. There are strict time limits if you want to challenge a decision. If you miss the time limit, which is usually one month from the date of the decision letter, you can only put in a late challenge in exceptional circumstances. For more information about challenging decisions see www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits We hope you have found this factsheet, useful. If you have any comments to make about content – things you would like to see or other changes you think we should make, please let us know by emailing moneyadvice.unit@hertfordshire.gov.uk Unfortunately, we can’t assist with individual benefit queries – please see list of advice agencies below. Further information GOV.UK Government website with information on benefits and a wide range of public services www.gov.uk Age UK Hertfordshire: Independent advice and support for older people 0300 345 3446 www.ageuk.org.uk/hertfordshire Citizens Advice 0344 4111 444 Online information: www.citizensadvice.org.uk Information about local CA and opening times: www.hcas.org.uk The Pension Service To claim pension credit: 0800 991 234 Text phone: 0800 169 0133 To claim state pension: 0800 731 7898 Textphone: 0800 731 7339 National helpline: 0800 731 0469 Pension Tracing Service www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details Money Advice Unit 17 Issue 19 0300 123 4040 www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
How you can contact Hertfordshire County Council
Our website
Information about adult social care – find about care services, day centres and apply
online for meals on wheels or a Blue Badge. You can also comment, compliment
and complain.
www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/adults
Hertfordshire Directory
Find national and local community groups, charities, services and activities
www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/directory
HertsHelp
Independent information and advice on local community services and care funding
Telephone: 0300 123 4044
Minicom: 0300 456 2364
Email: info@hertshelp.net
Contact us
For information on how to get care and support
Email: contact@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 4042
Textphone: 0300 123 4041
British Sign Language (BSL) video interpreting service available
Monday to Friday 8am-6pm.
Drop in
To your local library – see www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/libraries
If you are worried that you or someone you know is at risk of abuse or neglect
Call us on 0300 123 4042 (24 hours a day)
If you need help to understand
Call 0300 123 4042 if you would like help to understand this information or need it in a
different format. You can also ask to speak to someone in your own language.
Calls to 0300 cost no more than a national rate call to a 01 or 02 number
Money Advice Unit 18 Issue 19
0300 123 4040
www.hertfordshire.gov.ukAppendix – increase in pension age
Born between State retirement date Age on retirement (average)
6 Apr – 5 May 1950 06/05/2010 60
6 May – 5 Jun 1950 06/07/2010 60 ¼
6 Jun – 5 Jul 1950 06/09/2010 60 ¼
6 Jul – 5 Aug 1950 06/11/2010 60 ¼
6 Aug – 5 Sept 1950 06/01/2011 60 ½ Benefits affected:
6 Sept – 5 Oct 1950 06/03/2011 60 ½ State pension
6 Oct – 5 Nov 1950 06/05/2011 60 ½ Pension credit
6 Nov – 5 Dec 1950 06/07/2011 60 ¾ Attendance allowance
6 Dec – 5 Jan 1951 06/09/2011 60 ¾ PIP
6 Jan – 5 Feb 1951 06/11/2011 60 ¾ Universal credit
6 Feb – 5 Mar 1951 06/01/2012 61 Winter fuel payments
6 Mar – 5 Apr 1951 06/03/2012 61 HB/CTB higher
6 Apr – 5 May 1951 06/05/2012 61 allowances
6 May – 5 Jun 1951 06/07/2012 61 ¼ Concessionary travel
6 Jun – 5 Jul 1951 06/09/2012 61 ¼ Working age contribut
6 Jul – 5 Aug 1951 06/11/2012 61 ¼ benefits
6 Aug – 5 Sept 1951 06/01/2013 61 ½
6 Sept – 5 Oct 1951 06/03/2013 61 ½ NOT affected
6 Oct – 5 Nov 1951 06/05/2013 61 ½ Free prescriptions
6 Nov – 5 Dec 1951 06/07/2013 61 ¾ Free eye tests
6 Dec – 5 Jan 1952 06/09/2013 61 ¾
6 Jan – 5 Feb 1952 06/11/2013 61 ¾
6 Feb – 5 Mar 1952 06/01/2014 62
6 Mar – 5 Apr 1952 06/03/2014 62
6 Apr – 5 May 1952 06/05/2014 62
6 May – 5 Jun 1952 06/07/2014 62 ¼
6 Jun – 5 Jul 1952 06/09/2014 62 ¼
6 Jul – 5 Aug 1952 06/11/2014 62 ¼
6 Aug – 5 Sept 1952 06/01/2015 62 ½
6 Sept – 5 Oct 1952 06/03/2015 62 ½
6 Oct – 5 Nov 1952 06/05/2015 62 ½
6 Nov – 5 Dec 1952 06/07/2015 62 ¾
6 Dec – 5 Jan 1953 06/09/2015 62 ¾
6 Jan – 5 Feb 1953 06/11/2015 62 ¾
6 Feb – 5 Mar 1953 06/01/2016 63
6 Mar – 5 Apr 1953 06/03/2016 63
6 Apr – 5 May 1953 06/07/2016 63 ¼
6 May – 5 Jun 1953 06/11/2016 63 ½
6 Jun – 5 Jul 1953 06/03/2017 63 ¾
6 Jul – 5 Aug 1953 06/07/2017 64
6 Aug – 5 Sept 1953 06/11/2017 64 ¼
6 Sept – 5 Oct 1953 06/03/2018 64 ½
6 Oct – 5 Nov 1953 06/07/2018 64 ¾
6 Nov – 5 Dec 1953 06/11/2018 65
6 Dec – 5 Jan 1954 06/03/2019 65 ¼
6 Jan – 5 Feb 1954 06/05/2019 65 + 4 months
6 Feb – 5 Mar 1954 06/07/2019 65 + 5 months
6 Mar – 5 Apr 1954 06/09/2019 65 + 6 months
Money Advice Unit 19 Issue 19
0300 123 4040
www.hertfordshire.gov.uk6 Apr – 5 May 1954 06/11/2019 65 + 7 months
6 May – 5 June 1954 06/01/20 65+ 8 months
6 Jun – 5 July 1954 06/03/20 65 + 9 months
6 July – 5 Aug 1954 06/05/2020 65 + 10 months
6 Aug – 5 Sept 1954 06/07/2020 65 + 11 months
6 Sept – 5 Oct 1954 06/09/2020 65 +11 months - 66
6 Oct 1954 – 5 Apr 1960 06/10/2020 Age 66
This information is correct at time of print. It is for guidance only and is not an
authoritative statement of the law
Money Advice Unit 20 Issue 19
0300 123 4040
www.hertfordshire.gov.ukYou can also read
