The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released new figures showing that the State Pension is now providing financial aid to approximately 13 million people across Great Britain.

This regular payment currently amounts to up to £230.25 per week for those on the New State Pension (claimed after 6 April 2016), or £176.45 each week for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B).

The amount someone receives from this contributory benefit depends on the number of National Insurance years they have accumulated before reaching the current retirement age of 66 – a minimum of 10 years is required to qualify for any State Pension payment.

For older Brits nearing the official retirement age before the end of the current financial year (5 April 2026), it’s important to understand which benefits will continue, which new ones you may now be eligible for, and those for which you can no longer submit a new claim.

Your State Pension age is the same as your Pension Credit qualifying age unless you are a man born before 6 December 1953. You can verify your State Pension age and whether you can begin claiming Pension Credit on the ‘Check your State Pension age’ page of the GOV.UK website here, reports the Daily Record.

Benefits affected by your pension age

Turn2us has created a guide to the benefits you cannot claim from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) when you reach State Pension age or Pension Credit age. For full details on each of the topics listed below, visit the Turn2us website here.

Pension Credit age

When you reach State Pension age you can no longer claim:

Income-based Jobseeker’s AllowanceIncome-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)Income SupportUniversal Credit

Turn2us explains: “If you live with a partner and one of you is pension age and the other is not yet pension age, benefit entitlement can be complicated.”

Utilise the Turn2us benefit calculator to discover what benefits you’re eligible for, or seek assistance from a benefits adviser.

State Pension age

Once you reach State Pension age you can no longer claim:

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)Contributory/New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You’re unable to submit a fresh claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) after reaching State Pension age.

Nevertheless, if you were previously receiving PIP you may renew your claim despite being over State Pension age. This is only possible provided you’re claiming for identical health conditions for which you received the original award and your previous claim concluded less than 12 months before reaching State Pension age.

 Benefits unaffected by your State Pension age

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

Child Benefit (delivered by HMRC)Carer’s Allowance – you may not be eligible for the full financial element depending on your income from State PensionGuardian’s AllowanceStatutory Sick Pay (SSP)

You can also claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age, but only if you meet the benefit-specific income threshold:

Pension CreditHousing BenefitCouncil Tax SupportSupport for Mortgage InterestHelp with Health CostsWinter Heating Payment – Scotland onlyCold Weather Payment – England and Wales onlyWarm Home Discount SchemeWinter Fuel PaymentPension Age Winter Heating Payment – Scotland only, same qualifying rules as Winter Fuel Payment

For more details about benefits when you reach State Pension age, visit the Turn2Us website here.