What you are entitled to when you retire
In the UK, the official age of retirement is 66. Unless you're a man born before December 6 1953, your State Pension Age is the same as your Pension Credit age. When you're State Pension or Pension Credit age, check what you can claim from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Things you can't claim
When you or your partner reach Pension Credit age, you can no longer claim:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Contributory Employment and Support Allowance
Things you can claim
These are benefits you can claim even if you're over State Pension age:
- Child Benefit (HMRC)
- Carer’s Allowance – the amount you get may depend on your State Pension
- Guardian’s Allowance
- Statutory Sick Pay
- free bus pass and travel discounts – apply for an older person's bus pass or a disabled person's bus pass
- free prescriptions
There are other benefits you may be able to claim once you're State Pension age (if you meet the criteria). These are:
- Pension Credit – the charity Independent Age can help you claim at www.independentage.org
- free TV licence – if you or your partner are claiming pension credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Support
- Support for Mortgage Interest
- Working Tax Credit (HMRC) – you can't make a new claim, but if you already get it you'll carry on receiving it
- Child Tax Credit (HMRC) – you can't make a new claim, but if you already get it you'll carry on receiving it
- Cold Weather Payment
- Warm Home Discount Scheme
- Winter Fuel Payment